VOlUME 05 ISSUE 01 JANUARY 2026
1Petrus A. Mbenzi, 2Lukas H. Julius
1Associate Professor, Department of Humanities and Arts, University of Namibia
1ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4216-9562
2Senior Lecturer, Department of Language Development. University of Namibia
2ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7083-0099
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i1n10Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
This paper explores the challenges of translating Oshiwambo kinship terms into English, emphasizing their importance in intercultural communication and family relationships. Kinship terms in Oshiwambo convey cultural significance and are central to social interactions, but differences in their semantics from English create difficulties for translators, often resulting in communication gaps. To address these issues, the study utilises interviews with Oshiwambo students at the University of Namibia and is based on Vermeer’s Skopos Theory, which emphasises considering the translation’s purpose. Nida’s dynamic equivalence complements this approach, advocating for translations that convey the same meaning and effect as the original. The findings show that traditionally, Aawambo rely on formal equivalence in translation. The paper recommends adopting Nida’s dynamic equivalence aligned with Skopos Theory to produce more accurate and culturally appropriate translations of Oshiwambo kinship terms.
KEYWORDS:kinship, translation, Oshiwambo
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Cite this Article:Mbenzi, P. A., & Julius, L. H. (2026). Oshiwambo Kinship Terms: A Challenge for Translators in Namibia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(1), 78-87. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i1n10