Readership and the Translation of Figurative Language in the Shakespearian Tragedy "Julius Caesar " into Arabic
Abstract
Readership is a very important aspect in translation. The translator has to take into consideration many factors during the process of translation and one of these factors is readership besides the intentionality of the SL writer, universality and cultural specific terms, and SL and TL norms. Readership is important especially when the translation is done for publication. This means that the quality of translation is affected by readership. In this regard, Newton(1992:224)says that information-only translation is not intended for publication; therefore, it is produced quickly and cheaply for a specified readership. In such a case, style is not an important consideration. However, Hervey et al. (1995:131) assert the fact that all texts are consumer-oriented and say that every type of text appeals to the tastes of a particular audience. The kind of translation is, in fact, highly related to the kind of readership. Venuti (1998:14) asserts this point and says that the reception of a certain translation varies according to the readership. The difficulty, in this regard, is that the SL readership is never the same as those of the TL (Ferreira, 1999:360). This difference reflects the cultural differences. Accordingly, Silis (2007:7) says that the difference of readership expectations shows the discrepancies between SL and TL cultures. Readership can be regarded as one of the criteria of assessing translation. Venuti(1998:48) thinks that "the success of a translation reflect the appeal of a wider, middle-brow readership, youthful and educated".