The Phenomenon of Shift in Translation: A Corpus Based Descriptive Study of Spatial Deixis in Punjab Laws

Rabia Munir; Zafar Iqbal Bhatti

doi:10.35484/ahss.2025(6-II)13

Authors

Rabia Munir Ph.D. Scholar, Department of English Applied Linguistics, Minhaj Uinversity, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Prof. Dr. Zafar Iqbal Bhatti Professor, Department of English Applied Linguistics, Minhaj Uinversity, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35484/ahss.2025(6-II)13

Keywords:

Translation Shift, Spatial Deictic Forms, Category Shift, Intra-System Shift, Modulation, Equivalence, Replacement

Abstract

This article aims to explore the Phenomenon of Translation Shift of Spatial Deictic Forms (S.D.F) in the Urdu translation of the Punjab Laws. For this purpose, J.C Ian Catford’s model of Translation Shift is used as a theoretical framework to analyze the shifts carried on by the translator in order to maintain the equivalence in between English and Urdu Punjab Laws. The entire Phenomenon of Shift in the translation is explored through the use of a Corpus-Based Descriptive approach. The impact of the approach to Translation Shift is observed in two-folds. On the first part, it is used to explore the Category, Unit and Intra System Shift in the Urdu Translation of Punjab Laws and on the other part; it replaced the positions of the (S.D.F). In its whole this impact of the change of positions is elaborated by means of the implication of the strategies of Addition and Modulation as being followed by the translator, while translating the (ST) deictic items into the (TT).