Research Title: Difficulties in Translating Political Terms and Speeches Student's Name : Abdullah AlmuqrinSupervisor: Dr. Ahmad Alhwayshel2017/2018 Dedication I would like to dedicate my research to my Respectful Teacher who supervised my current study. A special gratitude goes to my loving parents, who encouraged me with love and sympathy. I also dedicate this work to friends who have supported me throughout the process Table of contents: Content P/N Dedication 2 Table of Contents: 3 Abstract 4 Introduction 4 Literature Review 6-5 significance of Research 6 Research questions 7 Research Methodology 7 Objectives of the study 8 Limitations of the study 8 results 9 Conclusion 9 References 10 Appendix 10-13 Abstract Every type of translation triggers off a different type of challenge. Paraphrasing plays a great means in political translation to surpass meaning ambiguity and translation difficulties. Another difficulty encountered by the translator is the distinct and immediate translation in political conferences. The researcher shall enlist many difficulties faced by the translator in terms of political translation, and at the same time shall suggest solutions to its difficulty to make a professional political translation. Introduction Every type of translation stands for particular difficulties. The translation of political translation is one of the distinct challenges encountered by the translator. For it needs special skills and a powerful personality in terms of engaging in instinct and immediate interpreting in journalist conferences. This type of translation requires the skills of both writing and oral translation. Dealing with political translation, one should be both a translator and interpreter. In many occasions, political translation requires a skilled experienced interpreter. Here experience plays a fundamental role in rendering the service of political translation. Starting with the question: what makes political texts sensitive texts? The researcher tries to reach certain objectives. Along the current study, the researcher emphasizes on acquiring skills for translating political texts and discourses, as politic news have become our every day's activities. Literature Review Translation of political texts and discourses has been playing an important role in the human history. However, this type of translation is much sensitive and requires a professional translator who apart of linguistic competency, he should be talented in being acquainted with the cultures of both the source language and the target language. Kari highlights the sensitivity of the political translation in her book: "Translating Sensitive Texts", she stated that "Translation, as an act of communication, has always been a unique source of knowledge and wisdom for mankind. Translated texts have enriched the intellectual life in the target communities, they have sometimes introduced new linguistics or new genres into the target language and culture, but they may also have caused irritation on the part of the target readers. All these aspects are concerned when one speaks of sensitivity in translation. Political texts are sensitive texts. What makes political texts sensitive texts? Sensitivity in the context of translation is only partly determined by linguistic aspects. In other words, the linguistic foundations of translation have to be seen in a wider perspective, i.e. both the source text and the target text are embodied in a situation and in a culture, and they fulfil a specific function in their respective situations and cultures" (Kari, 1997, P.132) On the other hand, Kari links the sensitivity of the political translation to the change of the function of political texts "Political text is an umbrella term covering a variety of text types, or genres. Political texts fulfil different functions owing to different political activities, both in intra-state and inter-state discourse. In translation, the function of the target text may remain the same as the one of the source text (ST), or it may change. A first case of sensitivity is linked precisely to such a change in the function of political texts. (Kari, 1997, P.132). Due to the spread of technology and auto visual media, the internationalization of politics has grown tremendously, and the entire world has become a small village sharing local and global political issues. Anna, links the significance of political translation to the global development of the politics at the international level " With the growing internationalization of politics, translation too, becomes more and more important. Political genres fulfil different political functions, and each of them displays characteristic contextual, text-typological, pragmatic, etc. features. Therefore, they all call for different translation strategies. Using multilingual treaties, and documents, speeches and statements by politicians as examples, some translation problems encountered in these texts and the strategies employed for their solution in authentic translations (target texts). These translation problems concern formal constrains, text typological conventions, terminological and syntactic conformity in a sequence of intertextually related documents, as well as ideological aspects of political concepts and culture-specific knowledge. (Anna, 2014, P.12) Significance of Research: Nowadays, political news prevails everywhere in the world, and the T.V. and radio programs focuses supremely on national and universal news. When an event occurs everywhere in the world, its news spreads over the world in a matter of seconds due to the increasing development of technology. Presently, a journalist must be bilingual at least, i.e., the mother tongue language plus English. Thus, a foreign language and translation ability have become a fundamental necessity to translate and deal with political news. However, political translation requires many skills and competency. Thus, the current study represents a contemporary significance where political news prevailed everywhere in the world. In this study, the researcher stresses the significance of oral instant translation (interpretation). Furthermore, this study represents a cultural and linguistic significance. Actually, it is not a matter of words to words translation. Research Questions: What are the difficulties encountered by the translator of political texts and discourses? What are possible solutions to surpass or decrease the difficulties of political translation? What is the difference between the translation of political text and a political discourse? Research Methodology: The researcher adopted the descriptive methodology as an appropriate method to describe the difficulties encountered by the translator and the interpreter in translating political terms and texts. On the other hand, descriptive methods are conclusive and helps better define the significance of the issue being investigated. Therefore, the researcher adopted this fitting methodology to define the difficulties faced by a translator in political translation. Objectives of the study To determine that aspects that make political texts sensitive texts. To determine the difficulties encountered by the translator of political texts and discourses. To suggest possible solutions to surpass or decrease the difficulties of political translation To show whether mastering both the source language and the target language is enough to engage in political translation. To explain the difference between the translation of political text and a political discourse? Limitations of the study The current study has a number of limitations as follows: To discover the difficulties faced by the translator of political texts and discourses. To suggest possible solutions to surpass such difficulties both according to other worldwide experienced translators in political translation and the solutions suggested by the researcher himself. Since the researcher limits the difficulties faced by the translator in dealing with political translation in Saudi Arabia, he recommends other researchers to expand the same issue but in the entire Arabic world. Results: The researcher could reach the following results: To make a professional work of political translation, a translator must study the culture of both the source language and the target language. In political translation, the translator must consider the use of metaphors in political speech in which a politician may utter a word or a phrase but he means something else. Thus paraphrasing is a significant means used by the translator to give exact interpretations of the use of metaphors in political discourses. Political translation has special difficulties different to the problems of other type of translation. Therefore, each type of translation has different levels of difficulties. Conclusion: The difficulties of political translation is a challenge for the translator, and appropriate skills are required to surpass such difficulties. The researcher could explore most aspects related to the nature of political translation worldwide in general and Saudi Arabia in particular. At the same time, the researcher suggests methods acquired by experience to surpass such difficulties. The use of the descriptive method fits well this type of researches thanks to which the researcher showed the importance of learning skills to surpass translating difficulties and make a professional political translation. References: Christiane N. (2005) Text Analysis in Translation: Rodopi. New York Karl S. (1997)Translating Sensitive Texts: Linguistic Aspects: Rodobi. USA. Anna T. (2014) Text Typology and Translation: John Benjamins. US. Vivian C. (2009) Contemporary Applied Linguistics Volume 2: Continuum International Publishing. New York Appendix: Study population: The study contained a sample of students, and the sample average was 5% of the study population as a whole. The researcher used the comprehensive survey approach to reach all the population vocabulary. Tools: The researcher used a questionnaire as a means to collect the required information for the current study as the most appropriate means for scientific researches to reach information and facts related to a certain fact. Study sample: The study sample includes (50) students of King Faisal University English Section . Schedule No. (1): Distribution of the study sample as per gender. Gender Frequency Percentage Males 40 80% Females 10 20% Total 50 100% Data in table (1) shows that the majority of the sample individuals are males students with a proportion of 80%, and the second percentage are female with a proportion of 10%. Schedule No. (2): Distribution of the study sample as per age. Age group Frequency Percentage 20-25 10 20% 25-30 15 30% 30-35 25 50% Total 50 100% The data in Schedule (2) shows that the majority of students aged (25-30) years and their percentage is 50%. Statistical Methods Used in the Study: Percentages and frequencies are used to analyze data and reach the arithmetic average and standard deviation to describe the study sample responses related to the questionnaire content. Response of the sample individuals about the Difficulties in Translating Political Terms and Speeches Sentence Frequency Response rate Arithmetic average standard deviation Percentage% Agree Neutral Disagree The translator faces difficulties in translating political texts F 46 3 1 2.67 0.597 % 92 6 2 There is a difference between translating political text and political discourse F 44 5 1 2.65 0.538 % 88 10 2 in your opinion there are solutions to overcome the problems of political translation F 40 8 2 % 80 16 4 2.50 0.527 Through the results of the following table shows us The phrase obtained that the translator had difficulties in translating the political texts at the highest rate of approval with an average arithmetic (2.67) The statement concluded that there are possible solutions to overcome the difficulty of political translation at the lowest rate approved by an average arithmetic)2.50)