Comma Placement Challenges Faced by Undergraduate Translation Students When Translating from English to Arabic: A Case Study at Omar El-Mokhtar University

Abstract

This study examines the challenges faced by undergraduate translation students at Omar El-Mokhtar University in placing commas when translating from English into Arabic. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research analyzed students’ performance on a translation task and collected supplementary data through a structured questionnaire. The quantitative results revealed notable difficulties: only 35% of students correctly used commas in non-restrictive clauses, while 28% applied serial commas appropriately. Overall, 42% of translations contained comma-related errors that affected clarity. Questionnaire findings showed that 78% of students had only partial awareness of English comma rules, and 65% reported low to moderate confidence in applying them. Major challenges included handling comma placement in complex sentences, transferring punctuation rules to Arabic, and distinguishing between different comma functions. Despite recognizing the importance of punctuation for translation quality, many students relied on intuition rather than formal rules. The study highlights the need for greater pedagogical emphasis on contrastive punctuation to enhance translation accuracy and coherence.