From Aridness to Greenness: Ecological Terminology in Arabic-English Literary Translation from Students’ Perspectives

Abstract

This study investigates how translation students engage with ecological terminology in Arabic-English literary translation, with a focus on their familiarity, preferences, perceived challenges, and strategic approaches. A total of 1,800 undergraduate and postgraduate students from Arab-region universities participated in a structured questionnaire comprising 24 items grouped into six thematic constructs. These constructs explored familiarity with ecological expressions, preferred text types, translation challenges, strategic methods, use of reference tools, and pedagogical recommendations. Demographic data regarding academic level, translation training, language pairs, and interest in environmental topics were also collected to test eight hypotheses using inferential statistical methods. Findings indicate a moderate-to-high level of student familiarity with ecological imagery and culturally rooted expressions in Arabic and English literature. Participants expressed a strong interest in translating literary texts with environmental themes, especially poetry and essays rich in metaphor and symbolism. However, significant challenges were reported in maintaining literary style and translating culturally specific environmental terminology. Students with more translation coursework demonstrated greater use of adaptive and explanatory strategies, while those who frequently used reference tools reported higher confidence and awareness. Support for incorporating ecological translation into formal curricula was especially strong among postgraduate students. The study highlights a growing pedagogical demand for ecological translation as a specialized skill and underscores the need for updated curricula, resource development, and interdisciplinary collaboration. It concludes that effective training in ecological translation requires a balanced emphasis on environmental literacy, cultural sensitivity, and strategic flexibility.