FRAMING EVOLUTION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF TRANSLATED POPULARIZED SCIENCE - THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This study examines the intersection of translation, scientific discourse, and ideology through a comparative analysis of the Arabic translations of Richard Dawkins’ The Greatest Show on Earth (2009). It explores how evaluative language in popularized science is rendered in translation and whether ideological influences shape the translators’ choices. Drawing on Appraisal Theory (Martin & White, 2005) and Hyland’s (2005) Stance and Engagement framework, the study identifies key discursive strategies used by Dawkins. It investigates how these elements are conveyed in two Arabic translations by Mustafa Ibrahim Fahmi and Loai Ashry. Findings reveal that while both translations largely preserve Dawkins’ evaluative stance, they diverge in their handling of ideological markers, particularly regarding divine agency and evolution’s epistemic certainty. Fahmi’s translation favors nominalization and passivization, softening Dawkins’ direct criticism of creationism, whereas Ashry maintains a confrontational tone, preserving Dawkins’ rhetorical force and sometimes intensifying it further. By highlighting the ideological nuances embedded in scientific translation, this study contributes to the broader discourse on the role of translation in shaping public perceptions of the presumed objectivity of science in the Arab context. It underscores the fluid boundaries between scientific objectivity and ideological positioning.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science