Translational Variation and Its Underlying Causes in Self-Help Literature: A Variational Translation Theory Analysis of the Arabic Translation of Atomic Habits

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines translational variation in the Arabic translation of Atomic Habits by James Clear, one of the most widely circulated contemporary self-help books. The study aims to identify the most frequently used adaptation techniques in the target text and to explain the underlying causes that may motivate these variations. Adopting a descriptive–analytical, corpus-based approach, the study analyzes 110 bilingual instances from the source text and its Arabic translation. Variational Translation Theory (VTT) is employed to classify patterns of translational variation, while a cause-based explanatory model is used to examine the factors that give rise to these shifts. The analysis reveals that altering and editing are the most frequently used techniques that seem to be deployed as a result of lack of translator’s knowledge, and lexical gaps and untranslatability. These recurrent patterns suggest that adaptation in this context is not random and does not follow a single pattern. The findings further indicate that translational variation in the Arabic version of Atomic Habits develops along two parallel directions: it contributes, on the one hand, to enhancing cultural accessibility and facilitating reader engagement, and on the other hand reflects challenges related to rendering the abstract and motivational discourse characteristic of this genre in Arabic. By systematically linking adaptation techniques to their underlying causes, the study offers a focused contribution to understanding adaptation in the Arabic translation of self-help literature.

Date of Award	2026
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science