Levels of Literary Translation in Salah Al-Saeed’s Poetic Experience:A Case Study of The Sliding Door Disturbs the Birds

Abstract

Literary translation is considered one of the most challenging and intricate branches of translation. Rendering a literary text from one language into another is no simple task for any bilingual translator. Rather, it requires a translator with broad cultural knowledge, refined literary taste, and a deep awareness of the transformative potential of literary translation in strengthening the bonds of communication among nations, civilizations, and diverse cultures.

This study aims to shed light on this significant intellectual field by exploring the linguistic and terminological definitions of translation, tracing its roots in Arab culture, and clarifying its status between art and science. It also investigates the translator’s role as a creative agent parallel to the original author in handling literary texts.

Within this context, the study examines a notable and research-worthy phenomenon: the experience of the Iraqi translator Salah Al-Saeed—one of the most prominent figures in the field of literary translation in Iraq and the Arab world. It seeks to identify the levels of literary translation in his work by analyzing his literary approach in translating The Sliding Door Disturbs the Birds, a book that features thirty-three poets from various languages and countries around the world.