The Challenges of Translating Oral Poetry: Cultural, Linguistic and Literary Difficulties

Author(s)	Soumia EDDIB, Kebir SANDY
Country	Morocco
Abstract	This article investigates the inherent difficulties of translating poetry, with a particular focus on oral poetry. It begins by defining oral poetry and poetic translation, situating translation as a complex and cognitively demanding endeavor. Translating poems is particularly challenging because it requires the preservation of meaning, form, and aesthetic effect across languages. The study highlights the primary difficulties in translation, which can be categorized into linguistic, literary, and cultural domains. Linguistic challenges involve reproducing metaphor, sound patterns, rhythm, and lexical ambiguity. Literary difficulties pertain to maintaining the structural, stylistic, and emotive qualities of the original poem. Cultural challenges arise from context-specific references, idiomatic expressions, and culturally embedded meanings that often resist direct equivalence. Overall, the article underscores the multifaceted nature of poetic translation and provides evidence of the profound challenges that make translating poetry an inherently demanding task.
Keywords	Oral poetry, Oral Translation, Translating Poetry, Challenges, Difficulties.
Field	Sociology > Linguistic / Literature
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 5, September-October 2025
Published On	2025-10-31
DOI	https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2025.v07i05.59230

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