Intercultural Communication Gaps in the Translation of the Kite Runner

Abstract

Culture, nationality/ethnicity, upbringing and individual experiences are all vital contributors to the substantial differences between people. These differences affect the way people view the world, as well as their expectations from one another. In the translation of The Kite Runner , these factors were ignored in spite of their importance and how crucial they are in shaping the outcome of the translation. Within this context, culturally bound examples and their Arabic rendering are taken from The Kite Runner (2003), written by Khaled Hosseini, as well as the novel's Arabic version عداء الطائرة الورقية (2010), translated by Manar Fayad. Assessment will take place in view of how successful these strategies and theories have been, with special attention to Vinay and Darbelnet's model which is used in translation to deliver the meaning, whilst preserving the cultural aspect. Other factors such as globalization, ideology and identity are also considered.