Transitivity in Urdu-English Translation: A Comparative Study of Nangi Aawazain and Naked Voices

Abstract

This study investigates the transitivity shifts between Nangi Aawazain, a seminal Urdu short story by Saadat Hassan Manto, and its English translation through the lens of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). This research, anchored in Halliday’s transitivity system, identifies how experiential meanings are encoded and reconfigured during literary translation. Employing a mixed-method approach and using textual analysis, this study compares process types, participants (pt.), and circumstances (cir.) in both original and translated texts. The findings expose significant shifts in material, mental, and relational processes. This reflects ideological, cultural, or stylistic negotiation by the translator. These shifts not only alter the agency and texture of the narrative but also impact the thematic interpretation and characterization. This study further emphasizes how translation is not merely a linguistic substitution but a socio-semiotic act that reshapes narrative authority and power relations. This research offers a robust framework for critically engaging with translated text by bridging linguistic theory with literary analysis. It contributes to translation studies by demonstrating how SFL-based analysis provides a systemic approach to unveiling subtle changes in meaning, agency, and perspective. The study underscores the necessity of sustaining experiential fidelity in literary translation and opens avenues for future research into metafunctional interactions across cultures and languages.