The human factor – a prerequisite for a good cross-cultural communication in translation

TRANSTATION

• ENTAILS
• decoding of culture-specific info
• re-coding of culture-specific info
• encoding of culture-specific info

Expression of thought connected with

• ‘intuitive knowledge about the language, about linguistic appropriateness and correctness’ – for native speakers of a language
• extralinguistic aspects such as our own culture, society, religion, ethnicity, politics, nation, age, etc. – for non-native speakers
• (David Crystal & Derek Davy, Investigating English Style, 1993: 5-7)

Cultural universals

• common to all societies & communities (distinguishing between good & bad - the dragon in Chinese & BG fairy tales)
• having tea in different cultures (for breakfast – function; 5 o’clock tea & high tea – traditions, habits & customs (UK); for socialising - TR)

TRANSLATION & CULTURE

• totality of knowledge;
• connection with behaviour, action & events;
• dependency on norms of social behaviour or language usage (linguistic structures, lexicological inconsistencies, non-translatable concepts, lack of notions, false friends, etc.)

STRUCTURE IN TRANSLATION

• fixed phrases or clichés (as is well known, as was stated above)
• lack of introductory ‘there’ constructions in languages other than English
• lack of structure with adverbs of time as subject (Tonight sees a Spielberg film – not a typical English construction)

LEXIS/SEMANTICS IN TRANLSATION

• lack of equivalent words (sibling)
• different ways of making information salient
• different ways of presenting information in academic writing

LANGUAGE & CULTURE ACQUISITION

• religion (Lamb of God – Christian culture; Eskimo culture – Seal of God)
• lamb – symbol of innocence
• geographical & environmental issues (Eskimo people – 25 words for snow)
• simple formalities – use of ‘you’, ways of address