Linguistic and Cultural Challenges in Security Translation: Bridging Gaps between Arabic and English

Abstract

Despite the growing necessity for precise translation in security and intelligence domains, the convergence of linguistic accuracy and cultural interpretation between Arabic and English remains insufficiently examined. Prior research has predominantly concentrated on basic translation challenges, overlooking the distinct intricacies of security discourse, such as metaphor, idioms, cultural references, and context-dependent vocabulary. This study examines the linguistic and cultural obstacles that impede efficient translation in security-related documents and conversations. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, integrating qualitative content analysis of genuine security documents with interviews from professional translators and security experts, to reveal previously unknown facts about the impact of misinterpretations on security policies, intelligence sharing, and international collaboration. The paper advances the field by establishing a paradigm for culturally informed security translation, thus addressing a significant gap between linguistic theory and practical translation application. The implications encompass translator training, policymaking in multilingual security contexts, and the enhancement of cross-cultural intelligence cooperation.