Journal of Translation and Language Studies

Information Repackaging Revisited: Finding the Balance between Translation Accuracy and Appeal

Franklina Kabio-Danlebo — 2025-10-06

There is a global rise in movie adaptations. This has contributed to the movies gaining popularity worldwide due to the socio-cultural and linguistic connections among viewers. The current study analyzes Nollywood (English) movie titles translated into Kiswahili and English movie titles translated into Spanish. Findings from a previous study serve as a springboard for the current study. The previous study analyzed Nollywood movie titles adapted for Kiswahili speakers. It outlined several strategies, including translation ellipses, transference, codeswitching, literal translations, insertion, and paraphrasing. The translation methods illustrate the difficulties translators face when they pursue either equivalence or alternative approaches in their target titles. Similar trends can be observed in English movie titles when translated into Spanish. The current study aims to extend this investigation by analyzing Nollywood movie titles in Kiswahili compared to English movie titles translated into Spanish. It analyzes different translation approaches among these contexts to understand how accurately maintaining original content compares to developing appealing titles for people with diverse backgrounds. The research collects data through questionnaires to contribute to existing views on movie title translation and adaptation. The comparative analysis expands understanding of how information repackaging through movie title translation affects socio-cultural and linguistic communication.

Cantonese-Portuguese Lexical Fusion: Pragmatic Insights from Cantonese-Portuguese Dictionaries

Jiayi DUAN — 2025-07-18

In the context of foreign trade during the Ming and Qing dynasties and the cultural exchanges between China and the West, the phenomenon of heterogeneous language blending gradually became evident. The unique geographical location and historical background fostered the formation and development of Cantonese-Portuguese (Cantão Portaguês), China's earliest mixed language. Cantonese-Portuguese possesses distinct pragmatic rules and laid the groundwork for the early development of Pidgin English. By examining the pragmatic rules governing the generation and circulation of Cantonese-Portuguese, we can uncover the intricacies of language contact and evolution between Chinese and foreign languages.

Metacognitive awareness and language achievement test performance among Iranian undergraduate ESP students

AliPanah Dehghani — 2025-08-20

Metacognitive awareness plays a fundamental role in enabling learners to employ appropriate strategies in problem solving, and monitoring their learning process in different conditions. The current study aims at finding the metacognitive awareness level of undergraduate students in ESP. To this end, 33 undergraduate students in ESP took part in the study. They were asked to respond to the given statements provided in the inventory. The data were gathered and analyzed. The results indicated that the participants' metacognitive awareness is high. Moreover, the participants obtained high mean scores on the two components of metacognitive awareness. The findings can be useful to learners to become familiar with their level of metacognitive awareness and to use them properly in different conditions. The findings can also be conducive to instructors and material developers to deliver materials in such a way that best increases learners' metacognitive awareness and involvement in learning process.

Intercultural Dialogue and Qur’anic Translation Paratexts: A Critical Discourse Analysis

Ismail Dahia — 2025-10-01

Qur’anic translations play a pivotal role in shaping global perceptions of Islam and advancing intercultural and interfaith dialogue. This study sets out to investigate how translators’ paratexts, as expressed in prefaces, introductory sections, and methodology statements, contribute to fostering or impeding intercultural and interfaith dialogue within Qur’anic translations. By examining these elements across four selected translations, Robert Spencer (2022), Safi Kaskas (2015), Laleh Bakhtiar (2011), and Muhammad Abdel-Haleem (2005), the research evaluates how translators frame the text to enhance understanding and engagement across cultural and religious divides. The analysis is grounded in Norman Fairclough’s (2013) Three-Dimensional Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) model. Through this lens, the research seeks to highlight the translators’ roles as intercultural mediators by shedding light on how their methodological choices might bridge cultural divides and contribute to a dialogic encounter between Islam and other worldviews.