RESISTANCE NARRATION: THE TRANSLATION OF AʿRĀS ĀMINA BY IBRAHIM NASRALLAH

Abstract

This thesis examines the translation of Ibrahim Nasrallah's novel Aʿrās Āmina, which is part of The Palestine Comedies series, which takes place during the second intifada in the Gaza Strip. Through a comprehensive analysis, the study highlights the significance of cultural specificity in translating Palestinian literature, exploring how the nuances of language and cultural references impact the representation of identity and historical context. The research includes a literature review contextualizing Palestinian literature within its socio-political landscape and discussing the translations of Palestinian resistance literature. The research uses Somer and Gibson’s narrative framework (1994) adopted by Mona Baker for translation studies. It analyzes specific aspects of the text, including colloquial phrases/idioms, expressions with religious tones, descriptions of cultural practices and foods, and descriptions of places and politics, assessing their implications and how they were translated. By prioritizing the public narrative of the ST when analyzing the translation of Aʿrās Āmina, the study highlights the importance of conveying nuanced meanings to the target audience, thereby enriching the understanding of the Palestinian narrative. This work contributes to the broader field of translation studies by demonstrating how translation can shape the identity and the narrative of resistance literature and its struggles.

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