Applications of Language Studies
A semiannual International Research Journal

A Microhistorical Study of Book Title Translation in Franklin Publishing House in Tehran

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Abolfazl Sanjarani 1
zadmehr torabi 2
Nazanin Ghodrat 3

1 Assisstant Professor, Department of Translation Studies, College of Foreign Languages, Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan. Iran

2 Assistant Professor of English Language Department, Vali-e-Asr University, Rafsanjan

3 PhD candidate,Applied Linguistics,Hakim Sabzevari University,Sabzevar

10.22034/jals.2025.2070923.1104
Abstract
Translating book titles requires fidelity to the source text and cultural adaptation. Franklin Publishing House (FPH), active in Iran between 1954 and 1976, played a key role in shaping translation norms. This study investigates the translation strategies applied to book titles published by FPH during this period, using a microhistorical approach. A corpus of 790 translated titles from diverse genres was compiled through archival research in the Princeton University Library, the Library of Congress, the National Library of Iran, and other Iranian repositories. Titles were classified by genre and analyzed according to Yin’s (2009) framework, which distinguishes source-oriented strategies (literal translation, transliteration, and explication) from target-oriented strategies (adaptation, new title). Frequencies and percentages were calculated for each category. Literal translation was the most frequent strategy (n = 444, 56.20%), while explication was the least common (n = 53, 6.70%). Genre-specific patterns revealed a predominance of literal translation across most categories, particularly in historical and pure science titles. FPH’s predominant use of literal translation reflects its commitment to preserving source-text identity, a practice that aligned with its Cold War cultural diplomacy objectives and influenced translation norms within Iran’s publishing industry.

Keywords

Microhistory
Franklin Publishing House
book title translation
translation strategies
cultural diplomacy

Subjects

Applications of Language Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 November 2025

  • Receive Date 05 September 2025
  • Revise Date 21 November 2025
  • Accept Date 22 November 2025

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