Cultural, Civilizational, and Stylistic Elements in Hasan Manzar’s Novel Habs and its English Translation Suffocation by Asma Mansoor: A Critical Analysis ناول حبس از حسن منظر اوراس کے انگریزی ترجمے Suffocation از اسما٫ منصورمیں تہذیبی و ثقافتی اور اسلوب

Abstract

This study examines the cultural, civilizational and stylistic dimensions involved in the translation of Hassan Manzar’s Urdu novel Habs into English as Suffocation by Asma Mansoor. It highlights translation as a complex intercultural process that not only transfers linguistic meaning but also mediates between differing cultural, religious, and ideological contexts. Drawing upon theoretical frameworks such as Eugene Nida’s equivalence theory and Aiwei Shi’s concept of accommodation, the article analyzes how translation strategies—particularly foreignization and domestication—are employed in the target text. Through comparative textual analysis, the study demonstrates how cultural markers, religious terms, historical references, and stylistic features are either retained, adapted, or omitted. It further explores how these strategies impact the semantic integrity and ideological orientation of the translated text, especially in politically sensitive contexts such as the Palestine-Israel conflict depicted in the novel. The findings suggest that while foreignization preserves cultural authenticity, domestication enhances readability but may alter original meanings. The research underscores the translator’s critical role in balancing fidelity and acceptability across linguistic and cultural boundaries.