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IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 38

Dr. Elgilani Khalil Osman Elfaki

Assistant Professor (Translation & English Language)

College of Sciences and Humanities –Hawtat Sudair

Majmaah University

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Mobile phone: 00966504295684

gilanijazu@gmail.com

Title: Understanding Idioms and the Process of Translating them from English
into Arabic

Abstract:

Idioms are set of words that produce indirect meaning. They have significance in any
language. They constitute an important ratio in any language's lexical component.
Translation of idioms into and from any language causes a lot of difficulties to
translators in general and foreign language learners in particular. The burden of
translating idioms into accurate and correspondent equivalents in target languages is
demanding and worrying. Actually, several factors play roles in facilitating or
complicating understanding and subsequently transferring the meaning of idioms into
other parallel language(s). Doubtless, culture is a pivotal element in evolution of
idioms. Nearly all idioms are derived from cultural backgrounds. Certainly, almost all
languages lexical stores contain diverse types of idioms. In order to decode the meaning
of idioms and idiomatic expressions, foreign language learners in general, and
translators in particular should possess profound linguistic and cultural knowledge in
both source and target languages.

As idioms have indirect meanings, they are graded in their degree of difficulties.
Translating English idioms into Arabic and vice versa is daunting task. English and
Arabic languages are of different linguistic backgrounds; English is Indo –European,
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 39

Germanic language of Christian descent. English as a flexible language has a history of

word borrowing from different languages as a result of colonization (Indian peninsula,
some African and Asian countries) and conquests and invasions (Roman, Danish,
Norman), whereas Arabic is a Semitic language of Afro –Asiatic language family with
Islamic (Quran and Prophet Mohammed's traditions) background. Few English idioms
have identical or direct meaning in Arabic and vice versa. Conversely, remaining
majority of English and Arabic idioms do not have identical or direct meaning or
equivalents. As a result, difficulties arise when foreign language learners attempt to
translate from or into these languages.

As idioms are universal; exist in any language, they are classified into different
categories. So as to transfer their meanings into other languages, several strategies
(methods and procedures) are applied in translating them.

Key Words: Idioms, Classification of Idioms, Culture and Idioms, Translation,

Strategies, Understanding of Idioms.

Introduction:

Idioms are the most gleaming and dazzling part of languages. They transmit language
message of communication with the employment of few vocabulary. Idioms in any
language have great importance. We cannot imagine any language without the use of
idioms in speech or writing, in formal or informal contexts, among young or adult
speakers. Idioms are considered as flavor and identity of any language.

According to a study conducted by Lazar et.al. (1989) '' Approximately 6.7% of the
sentences in third –to eight grade reading materials used idioms ''. Bulut (2004) adds
that '' Idiomatic expressions arise every 3-4 minutes in conversation ''. Qualls et.al
(2003) report that:

'' Idioms account for 18% -20% of the figurative language in contemporary American
literature ''

Slangs and colloquial expressions are linguistically classified as informal types of

speech.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 40

When translating idioms singly or in contexts, foreign language learners generally and
English learners in particular come across several difficulties which are hard to
overcome. These difficulties are due to:

1-Non –equivalence on the idiom level from source language into target language and
vice versa. As Mona Baker (1992:68) asserts '' different languages express meanings
using different linguistic means such as fixed expressions, idioms, words, etc. and it is
very hard to find an equivalent of the same meaning and form in the target language''.

2-Compared to other English vocabulary particles, idioms constitute the most difficult
part due to the unpredictable nature of their meaning. Foreign language learners strive
and usually fail to provide precise idiomatic equivalence when translating from source
to target languages.

3-Most idioms are culture –bound.

4-Learners' inability to distinguish between idiomatic and non –idiomatic expressions.

The basic characteristic of idioms is their non –literal metaphorical sense. Idioms are
fixed expressions; an idiom like ''a piece of cake'', the words sequences cannot be
substituted and singular words cannot either be transformed into plural forms.

Idioms: Definition, Explanation and Meaning:

The lack of predictability of the meanings of idioms makes them particularly difficult
for non-native speakers of a language to master them. The correct knowledge,
understanding and choice of idioms are indications of native or native –like mastery of
English language. In Oxford Advanced Dictionary –A S Hornby – sixth edition
(2000:643) defines an idiom as ''a group of words whose meaning is different from the
meanings of the individual words: 'let the cat out of the bag' is an idiom meaning to tell
a secret by mistake ''.

Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms (1998:1) points out that: ''they are
(idioms) more colorful and forceful in meaning than non-idiomatic phrases ''. For
example, the idiomatic expression '' look dagger at someone '' is much more vivid and
emphatic in meaning than look angrily at someone. Longman Dictionary of
Contemporary English 6th Edition defines an idiom as '' A group of words that has a
special meaning that is different from the ordinary meaning of each separate word. For
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 41

example, 'under the weather' is an idiom meaning 'ill' ''. As idioms are linguistic
expressions which are typical for a language and which often cannot be translated
literally into a different language, they pose challenges to translators and students.

James R. Hurtford et al (1983:77) indicate:

''Idiomatic expressions(idioms) are multi-word phrases

whose overall meanings are idiosyncratic and largely

unpredictable, reflecting speaker meanings that are not

derivable by combining the literal senses of the individual

words in each phrase according to regular semantic rules

of the language ''.

Few idioms abide by their literal constituents meaning. Thus, meaning which is
intended usually depends on the context in which the expression is used.

Any speaker of English knows, for example, ''let the cat out of the bag '' is usually used
to mean something like 'reveal a secrete ' though it also has possible, though rarely
intended literal compositional meaning something like 'release a small feline animal
from a sack '.

Michael J. Wallace (1981:5) defines idioms as ''Expressions whose meanings cannot

be easily worked out from the words they contain ''. These expressions sometimes cause
complexity and difficulties to understand English. The difficulty of understanding the
meaning of idioms is simply due to its nature: an idiom is an assembly of different
unrelated words. Ghazala (2003:128) defines an idiomatic expression as '' A fixed
phrase whose form is usually unchangeable, and whose meaning is always the same,
inflexible, metaphorical and indirect ''.

These fixedness, in- changeability, and sameness idioms' meaning are the main causes
that drive non –native or foreign language learners to commit mistakes of understanding
and then translating idioms.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 42

Idioms are usually special to one language and cannot be translated word for word: in
this sense we can quote Baker, (1992:11)

''An idiom may have no equivalent in the target language,

one language may express a given meaning by means of a

single word, another may express it by means of transparent

fixed expression, a third may express it by means of an idiom

and so on''.

Howarth (1998:28) defines a pure idiom as '' a unitary meaning that cannot be derived
from the meaning of its components ''.

J. Seidl Mc Mordiew (1983 :4) explains:

'' we can say that an idiom is a number of words which, taken together, Mean
something different from the individual words of the idiom when they Standalone ''

Mona Baker, (1992:63) considers idioms as: '' Frozen patterns of language which
allow little or no variation in form and often carry meanings which cannot be
deduced from their individual components ''

Rosamund Moon (1998: 3) tackles idioms as: '' An ambiguous term, used in
conflicting ways''. Ambiguity of these terms always confuse foreign language
learners, since they are new and peculiar in their composition.

Irujo (1984:38) defines an idiom as '' an idiom is an expression whose meaning cannot
be derived from its constituent parts''.

According to Irujo, (1984:42) ''idioms have conventionalized meanings, agreed upon

by speakers of the language, which usually cannot be figured out if they are not known
''. For example, the knowledge of the meaning of words: 'nuts and bolts ' does not carry
any indication at all to the idiomatic meaning '' the practical details''.

Idioms appear to constitute obstacles for a lot of foreign language learners due to their
special meaning and specific use in any language.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 43

McCarthy and O'Dell (2005:6)state : ''idioms are group of words in a fixed order that
have a meaning that cannot be guessed by knowing the meaning of the individual
words''. For example, ''black sheep'' means a person who brings dishonor on his family
or friends.

Idioms are acquired or learned in normal native language environment, whereas foreign
language learners possess mastery of idioms either through learning and teaching
process or when they have chances to live in native language environment. Therefore,
foreign language learners are always recommended and urged to learn idioms
intensively and extensively.

Due to complex nature and indirect meaning of idioms, native language speakers prefer
to use simple and idioms –free language when conversing with non –native speakers in
order to facilitate communication process. Foreign language learners should always
have the experience of learning and using idioms. Idioms are widely used in magazines,
newspapers, on radio and television programs. Long (1981:35) indicates ''input without
interaction is not sufficient for language acquisition''. Thus, learning idioms without
using them hinders final stages of acquisition of a language as: fluency and mastery.

Classifications of Idioms:

Idioms categorizations vary from writer to another, but these classifications share
common characteristics and similarities. According to Elewa (2015: 220) '' Idioms vary
as to how transparent their meaning is. They can be classified into five types ''.

1-Transparent or literal Idioms: put the blame on.

2-Semi –transparent Idioms: skate on thin ice, pull strings.

3-Semi –opaque Idioms: break the ice, keep one's guard.

4-Opaque Idioms: kick the bucket, chew the fat, face the music. bad blood, carry the
day, cloak –and –dagger, hen party, and kangaroo court.

5-Misleading Idioms: bend someone's ear, war chest.

An accurate analysis of idioms provides us with appropriate tools to identify lexical

components of an idiom. Idioms are therefore could be classified into the following
types:
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 44

Fernando (1996 :35,36) suggests the following as classes of idioms:

1-Pure Idioms: a type of normal or ordinary figurative or metaphorical expression. For

example ''pure as the driven snow and red neck''

2-Semi –Idioms: have extra literal particles, but no sense or effect of literality.
Examples ''fish out of water and walking on eggs''.

3-Literal Idioms: They are either invariable or allow little variation. They are clear and
obvious, and easily understood based on their parts. Examples, of course, in any case,
for certain.

The meanings of the individual words cannot be summoned to produce the meaning of
the 'idiomatic' expression as a whole. Then idioms involve the non-literal use of
language and they can be classified as follows:

1-Alternative comparison: Examples: Dead as a door nail or as dead as a dodo.

2-Noun phrases: Example: rainy day.

3-Verb +Noun phrase: Example: jump the queue.

4-Preposition phrases: Example: in for a penny, in for proud.

5-Verb+Adverb: Example: give the shirt off your back.

6-Verb +preposition phrase: Example: be between a rock and a hard place.

Palmer (1976 :98 -99) divisions: Phrasal verbs and partial idioms.

1-Phrasal Verbs: Palmer (1976:98) points to them as idioms '' A very common type of

idiom in English is what is usually called the ' phrasal verb ', the combination of verb

plus adverb, of the kind make –up, give in, put down''. The composition of these

words makes it impossible to understand the meaning instantly.

2-Partial Idioms: One of the words has its usual meaning, meanwhile other words

meaning is strange to customary formation of sentence . Examples: red hair, make a

bed, raining cats and dogs.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 45

Ghazala, (2003:128-130) divide the idioms into: ''direct idioms, indirect idioms, and
phrasal verbs ''. Thus, for further information emphasis and explanations examples
can be as follows:

A- Direct Idioms:

Here students of translation may meet slight challenge, because upon exerting any
efforts they can find the equivalents from their native language.

1-War of nerves: ‫حرب اعصاب‬

2-Needle in a haystack: ‫إبرة في كومة قش‬

3-Put / set the cart before the horse: ‫يضع العربة امام الحصان‬

4-False alarm: ‫إنذار كاذب‬

5-Pave the way: ‫يمهد الطريق‬

6-Ivory tower: ‫برج عاجي‬

When translating such idioms, learners almost face no problems, because the learners
own language contains such identical or equivalent idioms.

B-Indirect Idioms :

Are idioms which have no equivalents in native language. Here learners attempt to
translate idioms are encountered by absence of direct equivalents, grave mistakes
usually occur when translating this class of idioms. Examples include:

1-Wild goose chase ‫ ال طائل منه‬/ ‫محاولة عقيمة‬

2-Separate/ tell the sheep from the goats ‫يميز الغث من الثمين‬

3-With a heart of gold ‫ رقيق‬/‫عطوف جدا‬/ ‫رحيم‬

4-kick the bucket ‫يموت‬

5-Rob Peter to pay Paul ‫ يسدد دين بدين‬-1

Students problems here are increasing due to:

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 46

1-No direct equivalents in their native language.

2-Direct translation will be clumsy and off point.

3-Some of these idioms are culture –based: Peter and Paul.

Thus, as a solution, students must:

1-expose themselves to more direct and indirect idioms.

2-distinguish between different kinds of idioms.

3-use and consult idioms and advanced dictionaries.

C-Phrasal Verbs: Put on, argue back, carry out. They are characteristics of modern
English. It is normal to put adverbs or prepositions after specific verbs in order to get
different meanings of a word to diversify the language usage. Examples:

1-Take off : ) ‫يخلع (الثياب‬-) ‫تقلع (الطائرة‬

2-Blow out: ) ‫يطفئ (شمعة‬

3-Break out:‫يحطم سجن ويهرب‬-)‫حريق‬+ ‫يندلع(حرب‬-)‫يتفشى (مرض‬

4-Look after: ‫يعتني ب‬

5-Look for : ‫يبحث عن‬

6-Put on :)‫الراديو‬+ ‫الغاز‬+ ‫يفتح او يشغل (االضاءة‬-)‫يؤدي (مسرحية‬-)‫يرتدي(مالبس‬

Problems of Phrasal Verbs Translation from English into Arabic:

1-One phrasal verb may have more than one meaning; polysemy, direct or indirect
meaning.

2-Learners need to learn whether a certain phrasal verb combination is transitive

(requires an object) or intransitive (cannot have an object).

3-English foreign learners in general, Arab learners in particular find them unfamiliar,
since there are no equivalent forms in their language.

4-Some polysemous nature of these phrasal verbs lead to confusion.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 47

The author classifies idioms according to their nature or origin as: Animal idioms,
bird idioms, number idioms, food idioms, business idioms, color idioms, body idioms,
legal and court idioms, negotiation idioms, education and school idioms, clothes
idioms, love idioms, sports, and medical idioms.

1-Animal –based Idioms: They can be categorized into:

Bat Idioms:

i-have bats in one's belfry: to be a little bit crazy.

ii-like a bat out of hell: very fast.

Bear Idioms:

i-bear market: time when shareholders sell their shares, etc. rather than buying
because they expect share prices will fall.

ii-as hungry as a bear: very hungry.

Beaver Idioms:

i-as busy as a beaver: very busy.

ii-eager beaver: a person who is always eager to work or do extra works.

Bull Idioms:

i-a bull in a china shop: a careless or awkward person or a person who acts in a
clumsy way

ii-take the bull by the horns: to confront serious, difficult, and dangerous situation
firmly and bravely.

Cat Idioms:

i-like a cat on hot bricks: very nervous and upset.

ii-as nervous as a cat: very nervous

Cow Idioms:

i-till the cows come home: forever; for a very long time.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 48

ii-A cash cow: a lucrative product or project.

iii-Holy cow: used to express strong feelings of astonishment, pleasure or anger.

Dog Idioms:

i-a dog's life: an unhappy life; life full of problems.

ii-Top dog: most important person, winner; best person.

iii-not have a dog's chance: to have no chance at all.

Elephant Idioms:

i-A white elephant: a useless thing, with much financial cost.

ii-the elephant in the room: a question, issue, or problem which any one knows, but
does not mention because it is easier not to discuss.

Horse Idioms:

i-A dark horse: a person or something unknown and not expected to win or advance,
but surprises the public and wins the competition or .

ii-eat like a horse: eat much food.

Kangaroo Idioms:

i-Kangaroo court: an unauthorized popular court of law for settling conflicts among
community members.

Lamb Idioms:

i-as gentle as a lamb: very gentle or docile.

ii-as meek as a lamb: very quiet, docile, or meek .

Lion Idioms:

i-lion's share: the biggest part or share of something.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 49

ii-the lion's den: a difficult situation in which a person faces an unfriendly

surrounding.

Monkey Idioms:

i-monkey business: dishonest or silly behavior or conduct.

ii-make a monkey (out) of sb. : to make somebody feel stupid or awkward.

Mule Idioms: as stubborn as a mule: very stubborn.

Pig Idioms:

i-as fat as a pig: very fat.

ii-buy a pig in a poke: to buy something without seeing it or know anything about it.

Sheep and goat idioms:

i-black sheep: the worst or the most unpopular or disliked person.

ii-separate/tell/sort out the sheep from the goat: to distinguish people who are good or
intelligent from those who are not.

Wolf Idioms:

i-keep the wolf from the door: to have enough money to avoid going hungry.

ii-a wolf in sheep's clothing: a person who seems to be friendly or harmless but is
really an enemy.

2-Birds Idioms:

Albatross Idioms:

i-(an) albatross around someone's neck: something that causes problems for you and
hinder you from achieving your goals.

Chicken Idioms:

i-chicken feed: a small sum of money.

ii-chicken –livered: cowardly, easily scared.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 50

Coot Idioms:

i-as bald as a coot: completely bald.

Crow Idioms:

i-as hoarse as a crow: very hoarse.

ii-eat crow: to admit that you are mistaken or defeated.

Dodo Idioms:

i-as dead as a dodo: dead, extinct, no longer in existence.

Duck Idioms:

i-as a duck takes to water: easily and naturally.

ii-as easy as a duck soup: very easy, requiring no effort.

iii-duck soup: a task that does not require much effort.

Eagle Idioms:

i-eagle eye: an intently watchful eye.

Goose Idioms:

i-as silly as a goose: very silly.

ii-cook (someone's) goose: to damage someone's plans, damage or ruin someone..

Hawk Idioms:

i-watch (someone /something) like a hawk: to watch someone or something very

carefully.

Hen Idioms:

i-as mad as a wet hen: angry.

ii-as scarce as hen's teeth: very scarce or non –existence.

Jaybird Idioms:
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 51

i-as naked as a jaybird: naked.

Lark Idioms:

i-as happy as a lark: very happy and cheerful.

Owl Idioms:

i-as wise as an owl: very wise.

ii-night owl: a person who does not sleep at night.

Peacock Idioms:

i-as proud as a peacock: very proud, haughty.

Swan Idioms:

i-as graceful as a swan: agile and graceful.

ii-swan song: the last piece of artistic, theatrical or music work produced or
performed by a singer, painter, actor …etc. before his/her quit or death.

3-Body Idioms:

i-behind (someone's)back: without someone's knowledge; secretly; when someone is

absent.

4-Business Idioms:

i-banker's hours: short work hours.

ii-corner the market: to dominate a particular market with your product.

5-Clothes -based Idioms:

i-birthday suit: complete nakedness.

ii-give (someone) the shirt off one's back: to be very generous to someone.

iii-have/has ants in one's pant: to be restless or nervous.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 52

6-Colour -based Idioms:

Black Idioms:

i-black sheep: an ill –behaved person who brings dishonor and disrespect to his family
and friends.

ii-black market: a parallel and unlicensed market for sale and purchase of goods

iii-black/dirty look: unfriendly look.

Blue Idioms:

i-blue helmet: a United Nations soldier, often for peace keeping missions.

ii-blue –chip: safe and profitable investment.

Gray Idioms:

i-get gray hair: to have one's hair turning white /gray as old age or from stress.

ii-gray area: a position in which things are vague and not clear; uncertainty about
something.

iii-gray matter: brains, intelligence.

Green Idioms:

i-green: inexperienced, immature.

ii-green light: go –ahead, permission.

iii-green back: US. Dollar.

Pink Idioms:

i-pink slip: a termination notice from a job.

ii-in the pink (of condition): in very good health.

Red Idioms:

i-in the red: in debt, unprofitable.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 53

ii-red in the face: embarrassed.

iii-red –letter day: a day that is memorable because of some important event.

White Idioms:

i-white goods: major pieces of electrical appliances and equipment at home such as:
washing machines and refrigerators.

ii-as white as the driven snow: very white.

iii-white lie: a harmless or small lie told to be polite to avoid hurting someone's
feelings.

Yellow Idioms:

i-yellow –bellied: cowardly, extremely timid.

ii-have /has a yellow streak: cowardly.

7-Education and School Idioms:

i-call the roll: to call the names of students on a roll and expect them to answer if they
are present.

ii-hit the books: to begin to study hard.

iii-teacher's pet: the teacher's favorite student.

8-Food Idioms:

i-big cheese: a leader, an important person.

ii-bring home the bacon: to earn your family living.

iii-chew the fat with: to chat with..

9-Fruit Idiom:

i-bear fruit: give results, yield.

ii-fruit cake: a person with mental illness or behaves in an eccentric way.

iii-fruits of one's labor: the results of one's work.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 54

Apple Idioms:

i-bad apple/rotten apple: a bad person.

ii- polish the apple: to flatter someone.

iii-apple –pie order: very neat and tidy conditions.

Banana Idioms:

i-banana republic: an insulting term for a weak and poor country that relies on
financial assistance from other country.

ii-go bananas: behave in a crazy way, become highly excited.

Cherry Idioms:

i-as red as a cherry: bright red.

10-Legal Idioms:

i-cross –examine: to question a suspect or witness in a trial.

ii-grain of truth: the smallest amount of truth.

iii-send (someone) up the river: to send someone to prison.

iv-null and void: worthless, cancelled.

11-Love and Relationship Idioms:

i-break (someone's) heart: to cause someone emotional pain, to make someone feel
very sad or disappointed.

ii-find Mr. Right: to find the right person or the perfect person to marry.

iii-head over heels in love with (someone): to be very much in love with someone, to
be completely in love with someone. .

12-Medicine –based Idioms:

i-clean bill of health: a report or certificate that a person or animal is healthy.

ii-throw up: to vomit.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 55

iii-up and about: healthy and moving around, not sick in bed.

13-Negotiation Idioms:

i-breakthrough: a success that comes after overcoming a difficulty.

ii-come to terms: to reach an agreement.

iii-close a deal: to end a negotiation successfully.

14-Number Idiom:

i-all in one piece: safely, without damage.

ii-two bricks shy of a load: very smart or clever.

iii-as phony as a three –dollar bill: phony, not genuine.

iv-take five: to take one brief (about 5 minutes) rest period.

v-at sixes and sevens: in a state of confusion.

vi-a stich in time saves nine: any damage or mistake should be corrected immediately
in order to prevent it from becoming worse.

vii-ten to one: very quickly.

viii-at the eleventh hour: at the last possible moment.

ix-catch forty winks: to take a nap, to get some sleep.

xi-divide (something) fifty –fifty: to divide something into two equal parts.

xii-a/one hundred percent: completely/ok./ fine/ completely well.

xiii-million and one: very many.

xvi-a thousand and one: very many.

15-Sports Idioms:

i-ball is in(someone's) court: it is up this person to make the next move.

ii-blow the whistle on (someone): to reveal information about someone.

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 56

iii-get the ball rolling: to begin something.

16-Vegetables Idioms:

Bean Idioms:

i-spill the beans: to reveal a secret to a person who is not supposed to know about it.

ii-know how many beans make five: be clever, sensible.

iii-full of beans: in high spirits, feeling energetic.

Carrot Idioms:

i-carrot and stick: reward and punishment.

Cucumber Idioms:

i-as cool as cucumber: calm, not excited, upset or nervous.

Pea Idioms:

i-pea –brained: foolish, silly or stupid: I wish you would stop asking pea –brained
questions.

ii-for peanuts: for very little money, for almost nothing.

iii-like two peas in a pod: very similar, close, intimate or like each other.

Potato Idioms:

i-couch potato: a person who spends much of his time on a couch /chair/sofa watching
television.

ii-hot potato: a thorny or difficult problem or situation that people avoid, because any
decision may anger other parties.

Culture and Understanding of English Idioms:

Culture is a set of various mental and material activities produced by certain human
group. In Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2010) culture is defined as: ''1-The
customs and beliefs, art, way of life and social organization of a particular country or
group. 2-Art, music, literature, etc. thought of as a group. 3-The beliefs and attitudes
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 57

about something that people in a particular group or organization share''. Culture

meanings are divided over the concepts of visible culture and invisible one. These
visible cultural items comprise of physical items as: food, style of cooking, traditions
and way of behavior in a society, clothes, costumes, movies, and plays. On the other
hand, invisible cultural features include: religious and community values and beliefs.
John Lyons, (1981:302) defines culture as '' socially acquired knowledge '' Such
knowledge include: religious, mythological, and science knowledge. Whenever and
wherever language and languages varieties exist, bilingualism, multilingualism and
cultural variations and diversification develop and prosper.

George Yule, (1996 :246) states:

''In the study of the world's cultures, it has become clear that different groups not only
have different languages, they have different world views which are reflected in their
languages ''.

Connotations of words in certain cultures add to the distinction within each language;
for example, universal words such as: ice, summer, moon, red, white and black have
equivalents in almost any language, but have connotations in their languages as red
color is ceremonial and a symbol of happiness in Chinese culture, whereas this color
is frightening and linked to cruelty in English culture, while in Arab and Arabic
culture it is an indication to revolutions and violence. In English culture and most
Arabic speaking countries, mourning is connected to black color, but in Chinese
culture it is in white. The sun is lovely and interesting in English and western cultures,
but is not in Arab and Arabic cultures. There are numerous culturally –bound words;
they are connected with certain cultures and consequently they have no equivalents in
other languages as: Haggis (Scotland), Imam, Falafel in Arabic cultures. Hymes
(1996) emphasizes in (Marianne Celce –Murcia 2000) '' The learning of culture is an
integral part of language learning and education because it crucially influences the
values of the community, everyday interaction, the norms of speaking and behaving,
and the sociocultural expectations of an individual's roles ''.

Languages reflect cultures, languages and cultures are interrelated some linguists and
social scientists indicate this close ties as culture is impossible without language;
culture is the mirror of language and language is the mirror of culture as well.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 58

Brown, (1994:165) confirms ''A language is a part of a culture and a culture is a part
of a language; the two are intricately interwoven so that one cannot separate the two
without losing the significance of either language or culture ".

The absence or insufficient knowledge of English culture could complicate and

confuse mastery of English idioms by foreign language learners. Thus, understanding
English culture is very essential and vital in comprehension and recognition of
idioms.

Hajjaj and Kharma. (1989 :73) discover that: ''Arab learners encounter difficulty in
using English idioms because the great majority of the idioms are cultural specificity,
for example, put the cart before the horse''

Thus, it would be of great help to provide English as foreign language learners with a
useful description and interesting explanations of the historical and cultural
backgrounds of the given idioms to enable them to acquire these idioms effectively.
Wenying Jiang (2000:328) illustrates the relation between language and culture:

''Understanding of language and culture is conveyed through the following three new
metaphor; from a philosophical view: language+ culture=a living organism.
(….)Without culture , language would be dead ; without language , culture would
have no shape '' .

Thus, learning idioms should not ignore culture role in identification and
understanding of idioms.

Awwad (1990: 58-59) asserts that: ''cultural differences among learners constitute a
great difficulty for translators and interpreters with regard to both traditional and
innovating idioms''.

For instance, in English language and culture when a person passes away, they declare
that he/she has ''bitten the dust'' which is funny expression to non –native speakers,
whereas in Arabic they announce he/she has ''moved to Almighty God'' or ''his soul
moved to supreme skies. This is according to Muslims visions on death.

English language non –native speakers are always urged to be in continuous contact
with idioms. This include among others systematic contact in syllabuses and media
outlets.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 59

Foreign language learners need to be familiar with series of idioms and also be able to
use them in their real context.

It is always true that foreign language learners who distance themselves from use of
idioms in every day practice find they are strange English language speakers.

The acquisition of idioms has thus far been a neglected variable in the English foreign
learning environment.

Learners' poor competence of English idioms can be traced back to negligence of

studying idioms. Idioms are usually not included in most English as foreign language
syllabuses compared to other linguistic elements as syntax and phonetics. Overlooking
the teaching of English idioms has resulted in students' lack of comprehension and in
improper use of these idioms by both intermediate and advanced English foreign
learners. The problem appears clearly in translation; when some translators try to use
non-idiomatic expressions because of their poor repertoire of these idioms and transfer
from their own language. Thus, this research is interested in exploring knowledge and
mastery of English idioms particularly by non –native students specializing in English.
Since foreign language idioms are not easy and challenging to understand, because
majority of them are non –literal and indirect.

In addition, these difficulties of idioms can be attributed to the following:

1-Idioms are frequently omitted in the speech addressed to foreign language learners;
English -native speakers deliver their speech and correspondences to foreign
counterparts via simple and everyday use English.

2-Idioms range in scale of a language; they vary from formal, colloquial and slang.

Methods of Translating Idioms:

Idioms translation in general, and indirect idioms ones in particular constitute a more
daunting and difficult assignment for second and foreign language learners. Languages
of common ancestral origins and with shared cultural history and identity such as
Germanic or Romance languages their learners do not encounter difficulties in transfer,
understanding and then translating idioms. In case of translation from English into
Arabic and vice versa, it is natural for Arabic speaking learners to find such a job as
challenging; since English and Arabic languages are of different linguistic and cultural
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 60

backgrounds. English derived its idiomatic stock from Christian teachings i.e. The
Bible, Greek, Latin and Germanic myths, legends and philosophies, English people
own heritage, expressions of its great literary writers as William Shakespeare, and
surrounding environment. Conversely, Arabic idioms are taken from Islamic culture
such as Quran, Prophet Mohammed's traditions, and from Arab culture, myths and
ancient Arab literature throughout different literary ages. Linguistically, English
language is of Indo –European family association; Germanic branch, whereas, Arabic
is of Afro –Asiatic family, Semitic ancestors.

Difficulties of Translating Idioms:

Mollanazar, (2004 :52) indicates " the first step in translating idioms is to recognize
them. The pitfall for the translators is to translate idioms literally. A word-for-word
translation of idioms is often nonsense or even sometimes amusing''

Davies (2004: 193), on the other hand attributes problems may face students in
translating idioms and fixed expressions to:
- Recognition
- No equivalent in the target language.
According to Newmark (1988 :28) “in translating idiomatic into idiomatic language,
it is particularly difficult to match equivalence of meaning with equivalence of
frequency". He insists that the main problems, a translator faces, are not grammatical
but lexical, i.e. words, collocations, and fixed phrases or idioms (Newmark, 1988).
Whereas Nolan (2005 :67) justifies " The most common pitfall to be avoided is not
recognizing figurative or idiomatic language and translating it literally".

Baker (1992:65) explains " the main problems that idiomatic and fixed expressions
pose in translation relate to two main areas: the ability to recognize and interpret an
idiom correctly and the difficulties in rendering various aspects of meaning''.

Learners are encountered by intricate composition of words which is hard to absorb

and promptly translate into their own native language.

Baker (1992 :69) reiterates " An idiom or fixed expression may have a similar
counterpart in the TL, but its context of use may be different; the two expressions may
have different connotations, for instance, or they may not be pragmatically
transferable".
Before translating idioms, learners should: recognize and identify them. Then they
choose the precise meaning. Several researchers as: (Awwad ,1987), (Baker 1992),
(Kharma 1997), and (Abu Saydeh 2004, 2006) have conducted and initiated some
studies on idioms translation strategies.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 61

There are some views concerning translation of idioms as suggested by Gottlieb

(1997:319):

1-SL idioms matched by TL idioms:

i-Congruence (identical at word level).

ii-Equivalence (differing at word level).

2-SL idioms matched by other TL lexemes:

i-Single –word matches.

ii-Formula (non –metaphorical multi –word matches).

iii-Free form (encyclopedic renderings).

On the other hand, Mona Baker (1992:72-77) mentions these strategies for translating
idiomatic expressions:

1-Using an idiom with the same meaning and form,

2-Using an idiom with the similar meaning but different form,

3- Translation by paraphrase,

4-Translation by omission.

The main and most famous strategies for translating idioms include:

(1) A source language idiom is replaced with an exact or similar target language idiom.

Foreign language learners do not come across difficulties via this direct method of
translation. The problem is there are rare identical idioms among languages, especially
when both source and target languages are of different linguistic and cultural
backgrounds as the case of English and Arabic languages. Examples are:

(i)gain ground: ‫يكسب ارضية‬

(ii)kill two birds with one stone: ‫يقتل عصفورين بحجر‬

(iii)swim against the current/ stream/ tide: ‫يسبح ضد التيار‬

IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 62

(iv)the ABC of something: ‫ابجديات كذا و كذا‬

(2)Translating an SL idiom by an equivalent TL idiom that uses different words and

structure. Diamonds cut diamonds ‫ال يفل الحديد اال الحديد‬

It is suitable, but less welcomed as the previous one. However, acceptable as long as it
conveys the message being delivered. Examples are:

(i)by virtue of: ‫بموجب‬

(ii)tit for tat: ‫ العين بالعين‬/‫الشيء بالشيء‬/‫واحدة بواحدة‬

(iii)Achilles' heel: ‫نقطة ضعف‬/‫كعب اخيل‬

(3)Paraphrase

Paraphrasing as a strategy in translation is the easiest and most suitable method,

especially when identical or correspondent idioms in target language are not found.

A paraphrase as defined by Mundey (2009:214) as: ''expanded target text version of

a source text lexical unit written in the translator's own words in order to reproduce
the source text author's meaning as closely as possible ''.

It should be noted that paraphrasing as a strategy for translating idioms means restating,
decoding, or rewording a certain text in the source language for the sake of giving clear
meaning in the target language, examples:

(i)rains cats and dogs ''rains heavily'' ‫تمطر بغزارة‬

(ii)add insult to injury ''to receive/get misfortune or bad luck for at least twice''

‫يزيد الطين بلة‬

(iii)a hard nut to crack ''difficult to overcome/beat/defeat'' ‫عويصة‬/ ‫مشكلة عسيرة‬

(vi)wet behind the ears ''inexperienced'' ‫عديم خبرة‬

(4)Calque:

A calque is a loan translation of a foreign term from source language into target
language. New mark's (1988) define calque as '' a loan translation''.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 63

Shuttle Worth and Cowie (1999: 18) define calque as ''translation strategy where by the
individual elements of an SL item are translated literally to produce a TL equivalent''.
Calque as translation strategy amounts to word –for –word, but the meaning of new
term is always intact contrary to word –for –word method.

English as an international language of science, politics, economy, and other fields of

knowledge, has left its finger print on several world languages. Arabic language is not
an exception has been greatly impacted by English language. Through direct contact or
media outlets, Arabic owe English numerous words by the process of borrowing. The
loan words or borrowed expressions belong to different fields of knowledge especially
terms related to technology, scientific discoveries and modern games and sports. V.
Abdul –Rahim (2008) listed several loan translation from English into Arabic such as:
Skyscraper ‫ناطحة سحاب‬, stumbling block ‫حجرة عثرة‬, airlines ‫خطوط جوية‬

Wage ceiling ‫سقف االجور‬, fifth column ‫الطابور الخامس‬, bottle neck ‫عنق الزجاجة‬, news
coverage ‫تغطية اخبارية‬, friendly fire ‫نيران صديقة‬, film star ‫نجم سينمائي‬.

For example, the Arabic idiom " ‫ ''الكرة في ملعب فالن‬is a direct borrowing from English
means '' ball is in one's court'' is mentioned in both Al—Mujam Alwajeez (2007);an
Arabic monolingual dictionary published by the Arabic Language Academy in Cairo
and bilingual English –Arabic dictionary Al Mawrid Modern English –Arabic
dictionary (2000) . More examples include:

(i) The Iron Curtain ‫الستار الحديدي‬

(ii)The Cold War ‫الحرب الباردة‬

(iii) back to square one ‫العودة للمربع االول‬

(vi) naked truth ‫الحقيقة المجردة‬

(5)Literal Translation: Is a word –for –word translation. However, meaning extracted

direct from dictionaries, word order and target language structure is respected.
Newmark (1998: 73) affirms ''idioms cannot be translated literally …unless they have
a perfect literal equivalent in the TL''. As idioms have special fixed meanings, most
idioms do not have equivalents in other languages. Therefore, literal translation of
idioms is always an area of problems for foreign language learners. Mundey (2007:171)
states ''literal translation reflects the attempts made by individual translators to produce
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 64

what they would perceive as correct renditions of the SL idioms''. The problems appear
when most students consider literal translation is applicable to any language element.
As an strategy of translating English idioms into Arabic and vice versa, Abu Saydeh
(2004: 125) notes ''only in a few cases literal translation may fit snugly in the idiomatic
system of Arabic''. Thus, in order to translate an idiom literally, it should meet minimal
figurative language features as in this example: vote of thanks "‫"صوت شكر‬.

It should be noted that adopting certain idiom translation strategy must be subject to:
type of text, context, and target language readership.

Conclusion:

As idioms are words or phrases in which almost all their meanings are uneasy and
tiresome to foreign language learners to understand. The Oxford Companion to English
Language (1992:495) affirms ''an idiom's figurative meaning is different from literal
meaning''. Non –native language learners encounter several challenges in
understanding and then translating idioms. These challenges include: comprehending
source language idioms i.e. English is more idiomatic than Arabic, and precise choice
of equivalent idioms in the target language.

To facilitate understanding of idioms, they have been categorized into organized and
systematic types; also miscellaneous translation strategies have been initiated.

Almost all idioms are off spring of culture and surrounding local environment. Foreign
language learners should be encouraged and urged to indulge themselves in learning
source language culture for adaptation with mechanism of creation of idioms.

Since idioms are fixed set (s) of inconsistent words or phrases, but odd meaning. Gates,
(1972: 72) states an idiom is '' a fixed expression with peculiarity of meaning''.

The idiomatic composition of any language reflects cultural backgrounds of source

languages; English and Arabic are not an exception. Most foreign or second language
textbooks are poorly supplied with idiomatic contents. Jackendoff, (1997) numerates
''It is estimated that there are at least twenty –five thousand idiomatic expressions in the
English language''. Foreign language learners should be exposed to source language
idioms. Source language idioms dictionaries on idioms have to be made available and
at disposal of foreign language learners.
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 65
IJELLH Volume V, Issue XII, December 2017 66

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