The thesis Interworlds of Translators of Arabic Literature within the Slovenian Context by Jana Rajh Plohl explores the translation of Arabic literature in the Slovenian cultural context. Situated at the intersection of cultural anthropology and translation studies, it analyzes
translators as liminal actors operating in a lesser known but dynamic space between the familiar and the foreign. Using semi-structured interviews with five translators and other participants, ethnographic participant observation, a field-reading journal, and source analysis, the author
explores the history of Arabic literature into Slovenian from indirect translations via German and French to direct translations. A significant milestone in literary rapprochement is marked by the Non-Aligned Movement period, followed by changes after Slovenia’s independence. A
particular focus is on the invisibility of Arabic in Slovenia, where it is treated as a language of lesser difussion. This shapes the self-generated habitus of translators, often marked by feelings of illegitimacy. Practical challenges include the lack of dictionaries, prompting translators to rely on a variety of sources, including artificial intelligence, though always with critical distance. The thesis also interrogates the idea of the translator as a cultural mediator, uncovering motivations for translation and highlighting the political dimension of text selection. Cases such as Kukavičji mladič (2023) illustrate ethical dilemmas in the author–translator relationship. A dedicated chapter addresses (un)translatability, placing the translator
before the decision to domesticate or preserve foreignness. In this context, practical examples underscore the importance of cultural knowledge, culminating in an emphasis on the phenomenological dimension of language. The author concludes that literary translation from Arabic is a multilayered practice of continuous negotiation with language, meaning, and social power.
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