A Conceptual Framework for Arabic–Malay Figurative Translation Strategies

Abstract

This study investigates Arabic–Malay figurative translation strategies, focusing on systematic approaches for rendering simile, metaphor, metonymy, and proverb. Figurative language presents complex semantic, cultural, and rhetorical challenges that require translators to go beyond literal transfer. The research employs a qualitative exploratory design, utilising document analysis of primary sources including the Qur’an, classical Arabic rhetorical texts, and selected Arabic literary works, as well as secondary literature from translation studies. Content analysis is applied to identify figurative expressions and examine their Malay translations in terms of semantic preservation, stylistic integrity, and cultural adaptation, while expert validation is incorporated to enhance analytical rigor. Findings reveal that effective translation depends on aligning specific figurative forms with appropriate strategies such as modulation, explicitation, paraphrasing, and cultural substitution, supported by translator competence, rhetorical awareness, and contextual sensitivity. The study underscores the importance of developing a structured conceptual framework to guide consistent and sustainable figurative translation practices. These findings contribute valuable insights for translators and educators, offering practical guidance and advancing scholarly discourse on Arabic–Malay figurative translation.