Couplet as a Translation Procedure of Realia in Jordanian Novels Into Spanish: Cuadernos del Diluvio as a Case Study

Translating realia from Jordanian Arabic into Spanish has tremendous challenges and requires a culturally sensitive approach to preserve authenticity and contextual meaning. Realia, which encompass material elements of Jordanian culture, represents a rich and a complex layer of the language that goes beyond words. This study focuses on the importance of understanding the cultural and contextual nuances associated with Jordanian realia and offers specific strategies for its translation into Spanish. There is a real need to consider not only linguistic equivalences, but also cultural, social and emotional load of these elements in the target language to ensure full or at least enough comprehension. Through a detailed analysis of specific examples of Jordanian realia, (food and dress), this study shows how translators can meet the challenges of transferring these elements effectively. The decisions, taken during the translation process to maintain cultural authenticity, are explored, considering the linguistic diversity and regional nuances present in Jordanian Arabic. The need for cultural sensitivity and linguistic flexibility is emphasized to capture the essence of Jordanian realia in the target language without losing its underlying cultural meaning. Ultimately, this study highlights the importance of choosing the suitable procedure when translating realia. Based on the discussion of the selected examples to conduct the study, a couplet consisting of transliteration and footnotes is the recommended translational procedure to have a deep understanding of the source culture and the need to maintain a balance between preserving source text cultural values and accessibility for Spanish-speaking readers.