Incoherence as a Problem in Translating Jordanian Folkloric Songs:Zaffa as a Case Study

Folklore encompasses those things people would love to hear, perform and most importantly sing when they come together in certain social events like wedding parties. Songs are among the major components of folklore in which not only Jordanians do find commonality but also all other communities, giving them the wonderful delight of being among their own people. Nevertheless, the songs performed during a wedding march, known in Arabic as zaffa, do not sound connected clearly and logically. These types of songs are many, too short and varied. Besides, most of them are one-stanza or verse songs, each of which expresses an idea or a theme that has nothing at all with the topic expressed in the one to follow; i.e., singers are jumping incoherently from one topic to another. Thus, translation wise, this absence of thematic connection would pose a serious challenge to translators.