Translation as Rewriting: An of Translation Quality and Readability in the Arabic Version of Abai's Book of Words

Abstract

This study explores the Arabic translation of The Book of Words (2015) by the Libyan translator Abdulsalam El-Geryani. It aims to evaluate the quality of the Arabic translation, examines its readability, and determines whether it functions primarily as translation or as rewriting. Although the book is widely translated and internationally recognized, no academic research to date has evaluated this first Arabic version or analyzed the translator’s strategies, leaving a notable gap in translation studies. To address this gap, the study assesses translation quality using André Lefevere’s theory of rewriting as the main analytical framework, supported by a translation quality assessment approach. The findings indicate that the Arabic version is highly creative and interpretive, demonstrating quality through natural flow and smooth readability, which supports its characterization as rewriting. The study concludes by recommending that educational and research institutions and publishers collaborate to establish a unified body that brings together all individual efforts in practice and translation studies. This should be supported through a structured national framework for translation activities in Libya.