Reader-Response Theory and Meaning Transformation in the Translation of Arabic Literary Texts

الملخص

This study examines the transformation of meaning in translated Arabic literary texts through the perspective of reader-response theory. It argues that literary meaning is not fixed within the text itself but is dynamically constructed through the interaction between the reader, the text, and the translator. Drawing upon the theories of Wolfgang Iser, Louise Rosenblatt, Stanley Fish, and Hans Robert Jauss, the paper explores how translation reshapes literary interpretation by relocating texts into new linguistic and cultural contexts. The study adopts a qualitative comparative approach to analyze selected quotes from the works of Naguib Mahfouz, Zakaria Tamer, and Hanan al-Shaykh alongside their English translations. The findings demonstrate that translation is not merely a linguistic transfer but an interpretive and creative process that produces new possibilities of meaning. Cultural references, stylistic shades, and lexical choices significantly influence readers’ responses in the target language. The study contributes to the growing dialogue between translation studies and literary theory by emphasizing the role of readers and translators in shaping literary interpretation across cultures.