On the importance of context, composite implication, and compromise in translation
Explanation:
This answer is not for grading
I support Shazly's second suggestion. The word منـتجع simply means "vacation spot" and does not emphasize the particular aspect of "getting away," but for the purpose of the sentence that you posted, I believe it is the optimal choice. The reason for my posting is simply to clarify that, were it not for the specific sentence you posted, the choice might have been different.
"Getaway" is defined as "a place appropriate for a vacation" (American Heritage Dictionary." We all know that. The problem is that the word considers vacation spots from one particular angle, the angle of being a place for "getting away" from whatever it is that we get away from when we go on vacation (daily rut, work, deadlines, the city, etc.), not the angle of what we go seeking (relaxation, nature, quietude, beauty, etc.). For this reason, a translator is justified in trying to find a word that conveys not only the basic meaning of "vacation spot," but also the specific angle of "a place for getting away."
As we have seen from the various answers, Arabic words that convey the sense of "a place for getting away" are in abundance. Unfortunately, none of these words has acquired sufficient currency as a word that readily implies "vacation spot." Had there been a word that readily carried the basic meaning of "vacation spot" plus the added special angle of "a place for getting away from it all," that word would have been ideal. But in the absence of such a word, one can only choose between the basic meaning and the special angle. The basic meaning wins. It is not ideal, but translation is an art of compromise.
Can one ever use words like مهرب، ملجأ، مأوى، ملاذ
for the word "getaway" when the reference is to a vacation spot? I believe one can use such words if the the sentence isolates the meaning of "getting away." Here is an example:
"What I like about Kennebunkport is that it gives me a sense of being completely cut off from the idiotic buzz of of corporate existence. It is a getaway for me."
In this sentence, the sense of "getting away" is pinpointed in such a manner that any of the words that mean "a place for getting away" would work. In this kind of context, the sense of "getting away" outweighs the sense of "vacation spot," although the reference is still to a vacation spot.
Therefore, although I support Shazly's second suggestion for this particular sentence, I believe all the other answers are valuable and should be kept handy for other occasions.
| Fuad Yahya
Meets criteria
Native speaker of:  Arabic, English
PRO pts in category: 671
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peer agreement (net): +2
