Translating Metaphors, Idioms, and Proverbs from English into Pushto: A Cultural Linguistic Analysis within Translation Studies

Abstract

The translation of figurative language especially metaphors, idioms, and proverbs poses significant challenges for translators working between culturally distant languages such as English and Pashto. This study investigates the linguistic and cultural complexities involved in translating these expressions, drawing upon key theoretical frameworks in translation studies, including Nida’s (1964) dynamic and formal equivalence, Newmark’s (1988) translation procedures, and Lakoff and Johnson’s (1980) conceptual metaphor theory. The research analyzes fifteen metaphors, fifteen idioms, and fifteen proverbs from English and identifies their Pashto equivalents, employing tables to illustrate the translation strategies utilized. Findings reveal that idioms present the greatest cultural difficulty, metaphors demonstrate more universal conceptual mappings, and proverbs show strong moral parallels across cultures. The study highlights the translator’s role in balancing semantic accuracy with cultural naturalness, concluding that a hybrid strategy of functional equivalence, cultural substitution, and paraphrasing yields the most effective translations. This article contributes to the growing body of comparative translation research between English and Pashto and offers practical insights for translators, linguists, and educators.