Islamic State in Translation: Four Atrocities, Multiple Narratives

This book investigates how Arabic and English language narratives of the Islamic State terrorist group changed across national and media boundaries, utilizing insights from translation studies, communication studies, and sociology. It explores how multimodal narratives of IS and survivors were fragmented, circulated, and translated in the context of the terrorist action carried out by IS against the people and culture of Iraq and other victims around the world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This book delves into an in-depth, interdisciplinary exploration of Arabic and English language narratives surrounding the Islamic State terrorist group. By examining how these narratives evolved across national and media boundaries, Islamic State in Translation offers a comprehensive analysis of the shifting dynamics of these narratives. Drawing upon insights from translation studies, communication studies, and sociology, the book investigates the complex processes of fragmentation, circulation, and translation of multimodal narratives associated with the Islamic State and its victims.

The author, Balsam Mustafa, takes a close look at four significant atrocities: the Speicher massacre, the enslavement of Ezidi women, execution videos, and the destruction of Iraqi cultural heritage. Through meticulous examination of the Arabic and English-language narratives surrounding these events, Mustafa sheds light on how these narratives were translated, developed, and fragmented.

One of the key findings of the book is the socio-narrative theory that Mustafa advances. This theory posits that translation is not merely a linguistic process but rather a social and political act that is shaped by the broader socio-political context. By reconsidering translation in the new media environment, within a broader socio-political field of inquiry, the book offers a fresh perspective on the role of translation in shaping public discourse and understanding.

Islamic State in Translation is a valuable contribution to the study of terrorism, language, and media. It provides a rich and nuanced analysis of the complex dynamics of Arabic and English language narratives surrounding the Islamic State, and offers valuable insights into the role of translation in shaping public discourse and understanding. The book will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and policymakers alike, as it sheds light on the urgent need for interdisciplinary approaches to understanding the complex challenges posed by terrorism and other forms of violence.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350280212