The sociocultural dynamics of translating English self-help literature into Arabic in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Bourdieusian perspective

Alqarni, Abdullah 2024. The sociocultural dynamics of translating English self-help literature into Arabic in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Bourdieusian perspective. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

This thesis examines the translation of English-language self-help (S-H) literature into Arabic in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) from 1982 to 2016. Utilising Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social practices, this thesis focuses on the socio-cultural dynamics of translational production. It combines three methods and analyses three corresponding sets of data: a bibliographical database of S-H translations published in KSA (which was compiled for this study), interviews with key translation co-producers and selected paratextual elements of the translations. The significance of this thesis lies in its examination of how English-language S-H literature, which evolved in the Anglophone American culture, has been translated into the Islamic and Arabic socio-cultural milieu in KSA. The history of the field is traced by identifying its two main phases of production, 1982–1998 and 1998–2016, after which the trajectories, practices and production of the field’s individual and institutional agents are chronologically analysed. Furthermore, the role of complex dynamics—including political, religious, and economic forces—as well as various forms of capital in shaping the field’s structure and boundaries is demonstrated. This thesis contributes to existing research about the translation of S-H literature in KSA. Notably, it demonstrates that S-H literature is among the most translated genres in KSA and shows that the extensive production has been largely influenced by political and economic factors, including censorship and sponsorship. Moreover, religiously motivated self-censorship emerges as an additional constraint within the field. Additionally, it was found that the publishing houses initially translated S-H literature for financial gain, but their familiarity and expertise with English S-H literature and their social connections also significantly influenced their practices. This thesis also contributes to research on translation sociology through its adaptation of Bourdieu’s analytical tools to the unique geopolitical context of KSA. This includes recognising the significant role of religion as a field of power in KSA, as well as the institutional hierarchy in KSA, and their impact on the habitus of publishing agents. Finally, this thesis makes a methodological contribution to the field of translation studies by reflecting on the design and use of multimethod research, specifically relying on translation bibliographies, interviews with translation agents, and translation paratext.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Modern Languages
Funders:	Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia Cultural Bureau
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 July 2024
Last Modified:	09 Jul 2024 09:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/170421

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