From Prescription to Validation: An Evaluation of a Hybrid Translation-Transliteration Model for Technical Texts in Arabic

Abstract

Previous scholarship has argued that the literal translation of technical terminology into Arabic often undermines intelligibility, accuracy, and usability, particularly in highly specialised domains such as information technology, engineering, and medicine. A hybrid translation–transliteration model was therefore proposed, advocating the transliteration (Arabicisation) of established technical terms while translating surrounding syntactic and discursive structures. While this model is theoretically grounded, its practical effectiveness has not been fully examined in sufficient empirical depth. The present study endeavours to extend earlier work by offering an empirical evaluation of the hybrid model through textual analysis, reader-response data, and discipline-specific comparison. Drawing on responses from university instructors and undergraduate students across three technical disciplines, the study investigates comprehension, perceived accuracy, terminological consistency, and cognitive processing effort. The findings demonstrate that the hybrid approach enhances clarity and reduces interpretive burden without compromising communicative precision or academic rigour. The paper concludes by proposing a refined, decision-based framework for technical translators and highlights implications for translator training, terminology planning, and Arabic knowledge dissemination.