Eco-Translation in Children's Literature: An English-Arabic Comparative Analysis Through Nida’s, Baker's and Venuti's Lenses

Résumé

This study investigates the complexities of eco-translation in children’s literature; it specifically focuses on the translation of English environmental narratives into Arabic. Through a qualitative comparative analysis of five translated stories, the study examines the linguistic, cultural, and pedagogical obstacles inherent in the transmission of ecological themes to young Arabic audiences. Situated within the theoretical framework of Eco-Translatology (Hu, 2011) and utilizing Baker’s (2018) Translation Strategies alongside Venuti’s (2008) Domestication/Foreignization dichotomy and Nida’s (1964) Dynamic Equivalence, the study investigates pivotal excerpts pertaining mostly to climate change, pollution, and wildlife conservation. The findings elucidate that the translators adopt a variety of strategies, including lexical simplification, cultural substitution, and selective omission, to strike a balance between scientific precision, educational merit, and cultural pertinence. The analysis accentuates the manner in which translators navigate the inherent tensions between fidelity to the original text and necessary adaptations for the target readership, frequently prioritizing engagement and comprehension for the young audiences. Although the study recognizes certain limitations, notably its restricted corpus size, it contributes to the broader discourse on eco-translation by highlighting the vital need for culturally attuned, child-centric methodologies in Arabic children’s literature. The findings emphasize the dynamic role of translation in promoting environmental consciousness while addressing the distinct requirements of cross-cultural communication for young readers