Applying Appraisal Theory to the Translation of Selected Speeches of George W. Bush: Selected Excerpts of Speeches in his war against Iraq as a case study

Abstract

The Translation of political speeches into Arabic can be considered as challenging task due to the difference of ideological, cultural, and attitudinal systems that govern English and Arabic speaking communities. This difference necessitates having many procedures or standards of acceptability to govern each society. Hence, what might be acceptable and pragmatically understandable and interpretable to English readers might be wholly rejected by Arab ones. The aim of this paper is to focus on the translation of political speeches particularly the speeches of the former president of the United States George W. Bush in his war against Iraq back in 2003. We will review selected excerpts of his speeches; then, an analysis will be introduced via applying “Appraisal Theory” Martin and Rose (2003: 19). A suggested translation will be given from English into Arabic when needed. In addition, the paper will suggest a strategy for possible solutions of the problems that may face translators of political speeches.

This paper is hoped to represent a modest contribution in the field of translation in order to help the translators in general and students of translation in particular to recognize any possible areas of ideological, cultural and cognitive gaps that may be raised between S.L. and T.L. communities which may distort the communicated message and render it unacceptable. Moreover, the paper will suggest some workable strategies as we will see below to bridge these gaps and to overcome such possible problems that may intervene in translation in general and translating political speeches in particular.