TRANSLATIONAL GAPS IN THE TRANSLATION PRACTICES OF BS LEVEL STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITY OF BALTISTAN SKARDU: TRANSLATIONS OF ENGLISH IDIOMS INTO BALTI

Abstract

The current research investigates translation gaps in the translation practices, and it also analyzes the translation of English idioms into Balti by Balti ESL (English as a Second Language) learners at university level. The major focus is on the translation of idioms from English language into Balti language. Furthermore, the study encompasses various strategies to overcoming difficulties and recommending solutions to certain translational issues. With the expended global interaction, research work especially in the realm of translation has grown exponentially worldwide that deals with the issues within languages both inter and intra lingual domains. The current research is qualitative and quantitative in nature. The study has used two types of questionnaire with the scheme of idioms from English and the learners were asked to translate the given English idioms into Balti. The mode of analysis is used as close-reading and comparing the translations to the original text.  After the collection of the data, the researchers have presented the data on tabular charts using APA format to show data. The students of University of Baltistan have been selected randomly for translating the texts. The study shows that students face difficulty in conceptualizing and translating idioms. One of the reasons for the translational gaps was the translation of idioms sensing word-for-word preferences during the translation process. The researcher discussed the findings at different levels that how the participants as university students, translated the idioms and what strategies they used; and what sort of barriers they encountered during the translation process.  

Key words: Translations Studies, cultural translation, semantic variations, ESL and ILT