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TRANSLATION
&
CULTURE
TRANSLATION AND CULTURAL ISSUES
CULTURE in Translation Studies refers to:
. THE SET OF VALUES
. BELIEFS
. CUSTOMS
. SOCIAL BEHAVIORS
of a particular group or society. Language and
culture are deeply intertwined, which means
that translation is not merely a linguistic act but
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also a cultural one.
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MAJOR CULTURAL ISSUES IN
TRANSLATION
Linguistic vs. Cultural Equivalence
Cultural Specific Items (CSIs)
Domestication vs. Foreignization
LINGUISTICS
V/S
CULTURAL EQUIVALENCE
Linguistic equivalence involves word-for-word
translation.
Cultural equivalence seeks to preserve the meaning,
function, and connotation of the source message in a
way that is appropriate for the target culture.
EXAMPLE:
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Translating idioms or proverbs like “It's raining
cats and dogs." requires cultural rather than
literal interpretation.
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CULTURAL SPECIFIC ITEMS
(CSIs)
CSIs are words, concepts, customs, or references
that are deeply embedded in one culture and may
not have direct equivalents in another.
Examples:
Food: sushi (Japanese), paella (Spanish), biryani (Indian)
Social Customs: Siesta, Thanksgiving, Baisakhi
Administrative Terms: British MP, American congressman
Religious Terms: Ramadan, The Easter
CULTURAL SPECIFIC ITEMS
(CSIs)
STRATEGIES TO TRANSLATE CSIs:
i. Borrowing (keeping the original term)
ii. Calque (literal translation)
iii. Cultural substitution (replacing with a similar
concept in target culture)
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iv. Explanatory translation (adding a gloss or
footnote)
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DOMESTICATION V/S
FOREIGNIZATION
(Developed by Lawrence Venuti)
Domestication: Adapting the source text to the
norms and culture of the target audience (invisible
translator).
Foreignization: Retaining cultural elements to
preserve the foreignness and difference of the source
culture. Example:
Translating a Chinese novel into English:
Domestication would change cultural references for
easier reading.
Foreignization would retain Chinese customs and
names, possibly with footnotes.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES
TO CULTURE IN TRANSLATION
Skopos Theory
Polysystem Theory
Postcolonial Translation Theory 4
Feminist Translation Theory
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SKOPOS THEORY (HANS
VERMEER)
Focuses on the purpose (skopos) of the translation.
Cultural adaptation is guided by the function of the
translation in the target culture.
EXAMPLE:
A marketing text might require full cultural
adaptation, whereas a legal document might
need literal accuracy.
POLYSYSTEM THEORY
(ITAMAR EVEN-ZOHAR)
POLYSYTEM
The term refers to a network of interrelated
systems (genres, media, languages, etc.) within a
culture. Literature is one such system, and translated
literature forms a sub-system within it.
Zohar emphasized that translated literature operates as a
system:
1. TL selects work for translation. 5
2. Translation norms, behavior and policies are
influenced by other co-systems
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POLYSYSTEM THEORY
Places translated literature within the larger literary system of
the target culture. Often, translations help introduce new
genres or styles and affect cultural evolution.
APPLICATIONS IN TRANSLATION
STUDIES
Challenges the notion that translations are always
subservient to originals.
Recognizes translators as agents of cultural change.
Helps in comparative studies of how the same source
text is translated differently in different times or
contexts.
POSTCOLONIAL
TRANSLATION THEORY
Analyzes how translation interacts with colonial
power structures. It often focuses on:
Cultural appropriation
Suppression of indigenous voices
Resistance through language
EXAMPLE:
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Translating African or indigenous texts into
English may risk erasing cultural identity unless
handled with sensitivity.
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FEMINIST TRANSLATION
THEORY
Emphasizes how gender ideologies are embedded in
language and seeks to uncover and resist patriarchal
biases in translation.
EXAMPLE:
Feminist translators may choose to highlight or
restore women's voices marginalized in the
original or traditional translations.
KEY CHALLENGES IN TRANSLATION
CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE/IMPACT
Multiple meanings without Miscommunication, inaccurate
Ambiguous Language clear context meaning
Different sentence structures Grammatical errors, altered
Syntactic Complexity between languages intent
Source-culture-specific terms or
Cultural References customs Loss of meaning, confusion
Words/concepts with no direct
Untranslatable Terms equivalent Requires creative adaptation
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Idioms and Figurative Phrases with non-literal Literal translation loses
Language meanings significance
Translator’s own cultural lens Tilted or culturally tinted
Translator’s Cultural Bias influences choices translation
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CHALLENGES AND CONTROVERSIES
Untranslatability: Ideological
manipulation:
Some words or Translators might
concepts have no intentionally or
direct equivalent in unintentionally reshape
the target language. meaning to fit political
or ideological contexts.
Censorship and
taboo topics:
Culture influences
what is acceptable to
say or publish.
CONCLUSION
Translation is a culturally
loaded process. It involves not just
decoding and encoding linguistic
elements but also negotiating
between different worldviews,
traditions, and expectations.
A culturally sensitive translator must
be both:
•A linguistic expert
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•A cultural mediator
