1
English Department, Tolouemehr Non-Profit University
2
PhD candidate at Islamic Azad University (Ayatollah Amoli Branch)
10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
Abstract
This study explores the cultural and linguistic aspects of two English translations of Sadegh Hedayat’s The Blind Owl through the lens of Katharina Reiss’s (2000) translation theory. Employing a qualitative-descriptive approach, it compares translations by Iraj Bashiri, a native Persian speaker, and Desmond Patrick Costello, a non-native translator. The analysis examines how linguistic features—such as syntax, semantics, and stylistic nuances—and extra-linguistic elements—including culture-specific references, idiomatic expressions, and socio-historical contexts—are conveyed in English. Key passages reveal notable differences in translation strategies, highlighting the influence of the translators’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds on their work. Bashiri’s native proficiency and cultural insight allow for a more accurate and nuanced rendering of Hedayat’s complex themes, while Costello’s translation, though competent, sometimes loses subtlety. These findings emphasize the importance of cultural familiarity and linguistic competence in literary translation and contribute to ongoing discussions in translation studies and cross-cultural communication. The study concludes by reflecting on the implications for translator training and the challenges of bridging cultural divides in global literature.
Keywords: The Blind Owl, literary translation, linguistic features, cultural references, native translator, non-native translator, Katharina Reiss, translation strategies.
Dehghani Firoozabadi,M. and Paghoush,M. (2025). Cultural Dimensions in the English Translations of The Blind Owl: A Study within Katharina Reiss’s Translation Theory Framework". (e725396). Applications of Language Studies, (), e725396 doi: 10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
MLA
Dehghani Firoozabadi,M. , and Paghoush,M. . "Cultural Dimensions in the English Translations of The Blind Owl: A Study within Katharina Reiss’s Translation Theory Framework"" .e725396 , Applications of Language Studies, , , 2025, e725396. doi: 10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
HARVARD
Dehghani Firoozabadi M., Paghoush M. (2025). 'Cultural Dimensions in the English Translations of The Blind Owl: A Study within Katharina Reiss’s Translation Theory Framework"', Applications of Language Studies, (), e725396. doi: 10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
CHICAGO
M. Dehghani Firoozabadi and M. Paghoush, "Cultural Dimensions in the English Translations of The Blind Owl: A Study within Katharina Reiss’s Translation Theory Framework"," Applications of Language Studies, (2025): e725396, doi: 10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
VANCOUVER
Dehghani Firoozabadi M., Paghoush M. Cultural Dimensions in the English Translations of The Blind Owl: A Study within Katharina Reiss’s Translation Theory Framework". ALS, 2025; (): e725396. doi: 10.22034/jals.2025.2057642.1073
