Difficulties Face Students When Translating Prepositions

Abstract

Translation of prepositions is a problematic area in English and Arabic. This study aims to clarify the use of prepositions, identify the problems of translating prepositions between English and Arabic, and explore the strategies used in translating them. It has adopted an analytical descriptive methodology. The research sample followed the whole survey method, where data was collected through a translation test consisting of 20 sentences administered to all third-level students at the University of Science and Technology. The findings revealed that the majority of students performed well in translating English prepositions, whereas some faced distinct difficulties in translating Arabic prepositions. Furthermore, some students entirely avoided translating certain prepositions when unfamiliar with their usage, while others employed the strategy of substitution—which, though acceptable, was determined not to be the optimal choice. Based on these outcomes, the study recommends that researchers explore the efficacy of university instructors organizing specialized training courses designed to familiarize students with prepositional usage in both languages and extensively clarify appropriate translation methodologies. Additionally, students are highly advised to undertake intensive courses in both Arabic grammar (mother tongue) and the English language, avoid literal translation due to the fundamental structural differences between the two languages, and engage in deep study to grasp these nuances. If an exact prepositional equivalent is unknown, students should confidently employ the best possible substitution rather than omitting or avoiding the translation entirely.