Translating Connotative Meaning in Literary Texts at the University of Petra

This article is primarily concerned with the investigation of the importance of connotation in translation. The four meanings normally discussed in semantics are denotation, connotation, reference and sense. Denotation is the frame of meaning, which is found in definitions given by dictionaries; while connotation is an additional shade of meaning added to the denotation of a word. Pragmatic meanings play an important role in the interpretation of a literary text. They need to be handled carefully by translators, and are likely not to survive the process of translation. Their meanings are fragile and often culture specific. They may also be highly personal associated with the author himself. In literary translation, meaning can only be accurate to a certain degree, since it is looking for the connotative as well as the denotative meanings. As such the successful translator is aware of the multiple meanings of the word. Whilst the translator has to cope with the different shades of word meanings, which are in non-literary translation, he can achieve anywhere near perfection. It worth mentioning that poetry is the hardest of all literary genres to translate, because it has some linguistic factors to account for (notably sound, rhyme and meter and connotation). Thus the importance of connotation is of utmost importance in translation. which translators have to be aware of.