Role of contrastive text analysis in teaching translation for language learning purposes: prepositions as a case

Abstract

This study sets out to demonstrate the role of contrastive text analysis in teaching translation. The study is threefold: first a general background on the role of CA in teaching in general and in teaching translation in particular is given. Second, excerpts from both Arabic and English are analyzed to demonstrate how CA can contribute to better quality translation. Third, students work is examined through an experiment to illustrate how teaching translation through contrastive text analysis can be an effective approach. Emphasis is placed on contrastive source language and target language text analysis as applied to the translation of prepositions expressions from English into Arabic (and vice versa). Pedagogical implications are finally drawn and recommendations are suggested.