19:08 Dec 30, 2011
There are four strategies available for translators to render an idiom from one language into another; an idiom into its TL equivalent ( a method called functional translation), or to translate the idiom into its sense in the TL (just like the answers provided by our distinguished colleagues), or to translate the idiom literally ( and we have examples like يذرف دموع التماسيح- to cast crocodile tears -الكرة الان في ملعب فلان- the ball is at so's court, etc.) and the last technique is to use both the literal translation and the sense (just like يرمي المنشفة -literal+مستسلما sense).
However, each method has its pros and cons: the functional translation maintains the effect on the TL readers and keeps the TL pure from the influence of the SL while the literal translation may fail to produce the effect on the TL reader but it may help an interaction between the cultures of the two languages and finally the literal translation + sense allow the TL reader to comprehend the idiom well and acquaint himself with the culture of the target langauge (TL). Still, the translator is the decision-maker in adopting one method rather than another. Kind Regards | 
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4
