Ideological Perspectives in Two Selected Persian Translations of George Orwell’s Animal Farm

Amin Amirdabbaghian; Krishnavanie Shunmugam; Mansour Amini

doi:10.47012/jjmll.17.3.17

Authors

Amin Amirdabbaghian Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6503-8446
Krishnavanie Shunmugam Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4365-6187
Mansour Amini Faculty of Languages and Linguistics, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia School of Languages, Literacies and Translation, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2149-4604

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47012/jjmll.17.3.17

Abstract

Ideology plays a vital role in influencing language use in Persian translation work in Iran. Hence, those who engage in Islamic-oriented discourse are treated with more respect and favor in the community, particularly after the revolution in 1979. This study aims to describe the ideological impact of the Islamic Revolution on the pre- and post-Revolution Persian translations of George Orwell’s Animal Farm (1945) and for this purpose two translations i.e., Amirshahi (1969) and Hosseini and Nabi Zadeh (2003) were selected. Farahzad’s (2012) three-dimensional textual analysis model was used for data categorization while van Dijk’s (1998) theory of ideology aided in discussing the ideological perspectives that manifest themselves in the Persian translations. The findings revealed significant differences in ideological perspectives of the pre and post revolutions translators. The study has several practical and theoretical implications for translators, and language learners as well as instructors.

Keywords: Translation, Ideology, Persian, Animal Farm.

Highlights:

1. Comparative Focus:
The study compares two Persian translations of Animal Farm, Amirshahi (1969) and Hosseini & Nabi Zadeh (2003), to reveal how Iran’s pre- and post-1979 political climates shaped translation ideology.

2. Theoretical Framework:
Using Farahzad’s (2012) three-dimensional textual analysis and van Dijk’s (1998) ideology theory, the paper connects linguistic decisions to socio-political belief systems.

3. Ideological Manifestations:
Differences in lexical, grammatical, and strategic choices, such as “Rebellion” vs. “Revolution” or “Sunday” vs. “Friday”, illustrate ideological manipulation at multiple textual levels.

4. Translator Background & Censorship:
The analysis highlights how translators’ socio-political positions and Iran’s Momayyezi censorship policies shaped word choice, tone, and adherence to dominant ideology.

5. Contributions & Implications:
The paper concludes that translation is inherently ideological, extending this discussion to Persian literary translation while offering pedagogical insight for translator training and ideological awareness.