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Idiomaticity in the English Subtitling of Jordanian Movies on Netflix: A Cultural Analysis Cover

Idiomaticity in the English Subtitling of Jordanian Movies on Netflix: A Cultural Analysis

Open Access
|Dec 2025

Figures & Tables

The translation of النكد اجا ع طاولة عدل to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
النكد اجا عالطاولةThe misery (or ill-tempered(-ness)) came to the tableHere comes the naggingTranslation by paraphrasing

The translation of فرطت to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
فرطت معناWe cannot bear something anymoreWe’re done for tonightTranslation by paraphrase

The English translation of the oath علي الطلاق_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
عليّ الطلاقI must divorce.orI put the obligation that I must divorce.I swearUsing an idiomatic expression of similar meaning but a dissimilar form

The translation of أهل هالحارة بكملش يومهم الا بقصة جديدة يعلكوها to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
أهل هالحارة بكملش يومهم الا بقصة جديدة يعلكوهاPeople of this neighborhood do not complete their day without a new story to chew onFolks in our neighborhood love a good story to chew on Literal translation

The translation of عريس لقطة to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
عريس لقطةThe groom is a catchHe’s a catch.Using an idiom of similar meaning and form

The translation of يغص بالك to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
يغص بالكMay your mind be stuck with …Yeah, whatever…Translation by omission (replacement)

The translation of ومن خبر صغير بتوصلك القصة مستوية to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
ومن خبر صغير بتوصلك القصة مستويةAnd from a small piece of news, you get the full story levelledSo, by the time it reaches your ears, they’ve spun a web out of it.Using an idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form

The translation of أنا سحبني النمل to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
سحبو النملThe ants pulled him.He got dragged by the ants.Literal translation

Summary of translation strategies used in Netflix subtitles_

Translation strategyNumber of occurrences in Netflix translation
Idiom of similar meaning and form1
Idiom of similar meaning but dissimilar form2
Translation by paraphrase4
Literal translation2
Omission (replacement)1

The translation of المرا حردت to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
المرا حردتThe woman left the house for a reason.My wife got madTranslation by paraphrase

The translation of الله لا يخلف عليك to English_

Source textLiteralNetflix translationTranslation strategy
الله لا يخلف عليكMay Allah disappoint youIt’s your faultTranslation by paraphrase
Language: English
Submitted on: Aug 20, 2025
Accepted on: Nov 24, 2025
Published on: Dec 15, 2025
Published by: Sciendo
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

© 2025 Guhzall AlKhateeb, Abdulazeez Jaradat, Ahmad S. Haider, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.