Translation of doublespeak from relevance theory perspective: More flexible possibilities

Abstract

The present study is related to the field of translation and aims to analyse the translation of English doublespeak into Arabic from relevance theory perspective. This theory is based on the cognitive and communicative principles of relevance, optimal relevance, communication clues and intentionality. Moreover, Gutt introduced the concepts of direct and indirect translation based on the distinction between descriptive and interpretative use of language. The translator may choose the most appropriate translation strategies accordingly. In addition, the nature of these strategies and their efficiency within language manipulation implied by doublespeak may not be easily defined. To conduct our study, we have chosen samples from the internet portal “Qantara” which offers articles in English and their translation in Arabic especially in political and religious fields where doublespeak is widely common. We concluded that relevance theory provides the translator with flexible possibilities through allowing multiple interpretations and resolving the problem of untranslatability by offering a varied range of strategies such as literal translation, preservation, amplification, explication, equivalence and so on. However, the assessment of relevance shall be carried out in a detached and objective way.