Language Conventions of Kurdish Scientific Books in the Context of Scientific Translation between English and Kurdish

Abstract

This paper explores the language conventions of Kurdish Scientific Books (KSBs) within the context of scientific translation between English and Central Kurdish. The study analyses five KSBs to investigate their language characteristics, including clarity, precision, formality, use of terminology, style and so forth. The current study utilizes Lambert and van Gorp’s (1985/2006) four-step scheme for analysing and describing the KSBs. The findings reveal that KSBs generally employ clear and precise language, maintain objectivity and formality, and make use of nominalization and scientific terminology. The KSBs generally favour incomplete sentences in titles and figures, and, in the body of the sections and chapters, prefer long sentences and active voice and avoid direct quotations, abbreviations, acronyms, and personal pronouns. They also incorporate English loanwords and terms to fill lexical lacunae, indicating the influence of the English scientific language. This research accordingly sheds light on the language conventions of KSBs and their potential similarities to the English scientific language.