The Status of Translation in the Kurdish Language Based on Critical Approaches

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 PhD in Linguistics, National Language Institute researcher

2 PhD in Translation Studies, Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Foreign Languages, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

The present study critically examines the state of translation in the Kurdish language. It employs a descriptive–analytical method, and the data have been collected through library-based research using purposive sampling within the period from 1997 to 2026. Methodologically, the study is situated within Descriptive Translation Studies, following a function-oriented approach, and its position in the field is clarified with reference to Holmes's Map of Translation Studies. The theoretical framework, however, is grounded in a critical–sociological perspective drawing on the world system of translation, minority translation and translational agency, as well as debates on the ethics and politics of translation and retranslation. The findings indicate that translation in Kurdish is not merely a linguistic act but is shaped by power relations and ideology, and that Kurdish typically occupies a peripheral status within the global translation system as one of the less-translated languages. Moreover, intralingual translation and indirect translation through intermediary languages may weaken the originality of Kurdish texts and facilitate the transfer of censorship and ideological interventions. Conversely, translation as a form of cultural agency—particularly through translating Kurdish works into dominant languages such as English—can play a significant role in promoting Kurdish literature on a global scale. Finally, the study shows that the lack of institutionalization of Kurdish Translation Studies as an academic field is among the main factors undermining its scholarly and professional development; therefore, establishing university curricula, specialized journals, and professional associations is essential for strengthening the academic and cultural status of Kurdish translation.

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 May 2026
  • Revise Date: 07 September 2026
  • Accept Date: 22 September 2026

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