Lexical Departure from Formal Correspondence in Translation: Semantic and Pragmatic Justification

Abstract

This paper aimed at justifying the lexical departure from formal correspondence by means of omission, addition or substitution in translation from English into Arabic. A classification of four linguistic (semantic or pragmatic) relationships was developed; such relationships were considered as grounds of justification of lexical departure from formal correspondence in translation. This classification was applied to the Arabic translations of a number of extracts taken out of sociopolitical speeches delivered by Martin Luther King. The acts of lexical omission, addition and substitution were found to be translational strategies based upon the referential, collocative, connotative or situational relationships between the SL/TL omitted, added or substituted lexical units of language and the SL/TL context.