Challenges Faced by Libyan Translation Students When Translating Scientific Texts from English into Arabic

Abstract

 Libyan undergraduate students face many challenges when translating scientific terms from English into Arabic; therefore, this study seeks to identify and analyze these difficulties. The findings showed that the majority of students relied on transference and naturalization, which  frequently resulted in inaccurate and distorted renderings. Their use of literal translation was sometimes successful when standardized Arabic equivalents existed. More accurate strategies such as recognized translation and functional equivalents were applied less frequently. Some examples of semantic mistranslation and overgeneralization   revealed students’ limited exposure to specialized terminology and their insufficient use of scientific dictionaries. This  analysis indicates that the difficulties students encounter  arise not only from linguistic gaps but also from limited subject-matter knowledge and inappropriate pedagogical preparation.