REPUBLIC OF TURKEY

ATATURK UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETING

YMT103

History and Theory of Translation I

TRANSLATION AND TRANSCULTURATION

Submitted to: Asst. Prof. ŞENNUR BAKIRTAŞ

Submitted by: CEMRE YIGIT

215001022

JANUARY 2023
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TRANSLATION AND TRANSCULTURATION

The demand for translation has emerged since dissimilar languages began to be used in

the history of humanity. People always need to understand and communicate in order to meet

their own requirements. Archaeologists dig up the soil in order to illuminate the past. Words

that don’t belong to the same language family have been found in books, stones, and

ornaments during these excavations. This situation has enabled the first step to be taken in

order to understand and translate languages. The translation of the Bible from Hebrew to

Greek can be considered as the first translation activity in the world. Of course, it wasn’t

limited to this. In the following periods, translation was needed by different nations.

Translation is the process of transforming a written or verbal document into a language

to another language which it actually belongs. It is being examined in stages. Translation is

not a one-stage process. First, the text is examined in the source text; then text analysis is

performed, and finally, it is delivered to the target text reader in the most accurate way.

Translation allows people to comprehend the different meanings in dissimilar languages to the

same source in their mother tongue. With this quality, translation acts as a bridge between

languages.

Translation has been variously defined and interpreted by linguists. "Translation is the

replacement of a text in one language by a replacement of an equivalent text in a second

language" (Needham & Hudson, 1972, p.713). This definition is quite simple and descriptive.

The only thing that can be added is that the translation process does not consist of text only.

Even a portrait can be translated.

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Of course, it is possible to find other descriptions by other linguists as well. Catford

describes the translation process as, "Replacement of textual material in one language, which

means source text by equivalent textual material in another language, which means target

language" (J. C. Catford, 1965, p.20). Catford has made the most accurate definition of

translation and how does it work.

When it comes to translation, only text translation should not come to mind. Of

course, the types of written translations are still quite common today. Technical text

translation is one of the most important of them, and in order to translate texts in this type of

translation, it is necessary to have a good knowledge of terminology. Literary translation is

also not a field that will lose its popularity. It is aimed at the target language of literary texts

such as novels, poems, essays, and short stories. Translation of law texts is also extremely

common and important. It is the process of translating the documents in a case into a target

language. Social Science Translation, Commercial Text Translation, Medical Translation, and

Web Translation are also areas of translation that exist when translating written texts into the

target language. Along with these, it would not be correct to pass by without saying that oral

translation is also of great importance. These types of interpretation are translation and

interpreting students' dreams, and those who really want to can get them.

Consecutive translation is a type of translation used in official environments such as

symposiums, congresses, and debates. In consecutive translation, the interpreter listens to

what the speaker is saying. Simultaneously with the listening process, the interpreter takes

notes of the points that s/he finds important.

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Finally, s/he conveys what has been told to the other person or group in the target

language.

Dialogue translation is a type of oral translation. With dialogue translation, the

conversation between two people is being translated into the language which is necessary. In

dialogue translation, the interpreter acts as bridge, s/he conveys what has been told to another

personage. The last type of oral translation and the type of translation that we can actually call

the most difficult is simultaneous translation. The interpreter should listen to the conversation

on the one hand, and also s/he has to follow the speaker's body language and interpret it

appropriately. Having necessary knowledge of terminology is essential again and again.

While performing the translation activity, it is necessary to pay attention to linguistic,

structural and semantic elements. Translating the text right is a prerequisite for reaching the

target language audience, and it's distressing to even think about the consequences of a wrong

translation. Nevertheless, to think that the translation is only about knowing the words is as

wrong as not putting quotation marks when quoting, it is a big mistake. Knowing what the

translation is for, to whom and why is as important as knowing grammar.

One of the purposes of translation is to make the target text receiver feel the same as

the text made the source text receiver feel in the original language, which means equivalence.

To comprehend the process of translation, a person must have a good knowledge of

equivalence.
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Because of social, cultural, and historical distinctions, languages have evolved in

many different directions. A word in a language can have multiple meanings. Even in the

simplest word, it is possible to see this kind of issues. The word that exists in Turkish may not

have a meaning in Chinese. Especially in words that do not have a concrete meaning, such as

‘gönül’ in Turkish, this problem may occur.

The way to be followed in such cases is to choose the closest possible word in terms of

meaning. For example, what if there is a Japanese term-based in front of us and we need to

translate it to Turkish? Let's imagine that we are encountered with the word Wabi-Sabi, which

tells that there is beauty in every flaw. There is not an exact translation of this word in Turkish

and it is possible to not to get the point for readers from Turkey. Being able to convey it to the

reader with the closest meaning is the subject and priority of equivalence.

So, what are the effects of correct translation on cultures? Culture is the way of living

and thinking that makes a society different from other societies, unique to itself, forms its

identity with its art, beliefs, customs and traditions, understanding and behavior.

Translation allows us to learn about different cultures. “The globalization of economic

activities and transnational corporations has led us to think that we are entering a borderless

world” (Yeung, 1996, p.291). Acculturation can be defined as receiving some elements from

another culture.

Wars, decimations, commercial movements between countries can be the motives for

the deculturation.
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When a group being forced to give up their own selves is that they adopt the culture of

another nation or group, it’s transculturation. The best example of transculturation is the

convolution system. For transculturation to take place, two different cultures must be in

contact. Generally, the most technologically and politically advanced society is the one that

defeats the other. Transculturation is a consequence of globalization.

Globalization developing between countries paves the way to cultural transformation

via the media and social networks. Globalization is a contributing aspect. Organizations are

not limited by national borders. Burger King is everywhere, and McDonald’s hamburgers are

taking place all around the world. Japanese brand Toyota produces cars in Texas.

One of the most vital consequences of intercultural transformation is the loss of

identity. This means that people who have assimilated into another culture do not feel part of

anything that prevents them from developing nationalist feelings.

I would like to summarize the subject I mentioned in the above pages in a few lines.

Translation is an amusement process, and it contributes a lot to the person in terms of culture

and knowledge. Thanks to translation, we know not only just our own culture, but also learn

about other societies. In the continuation of this, it is normal for us to feel close to a culture

and allow it to take place in our lives. What we need to be careful about is not to let our own

culture and values be overshadowed.

REFERENCES

Catford, J.C. 1965. A Linguistic Theory of Translation

Translation Theories, Strategies and Basic Theoretical Issues by Prof. A. B. As-Safi, Petra

University

Yeung, H. W. (1998). Capital, State and Space: Contesting the Borderless World.

Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 23(3), 291–309.

https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/801722

https://meritresearchjournals.org/er/content/2013/July/Lebr%F3n.pdf

https://www.ktb.gov.tr/TR-96254/kultur.html

https://tr.warbletoncouncil.org/transculturacion-11963