On Foreignization Translation and Its Cultural Significance: The Significance of Foreignization

Abstract: Translation is not a simple exchange between two languages. In the process of translation, the translator must consider the different cultural environments of the source language and the target language, and then choose translation strategies. The dispute between domestication and foreignization has a long history in the field of translation. This paper discusses the significance of foreignization translation to the target language and target culture from the cultural perspective.

Keywords: translation task, domestication and foreignization, cross-cultural significance

introduce

In recent years, there has often been a debate in translation circles about domestication and foreignization, that is, whether translation should be based on the target language or the target readers or on the source language or the original author. The author thinks that these two strategies are reasonable. However, the so-called domestication and foreignization are, in the final analysis, only translation strategies adopted by translators in the process of translation, and the use of translation strategies should depend on the essence of translation, that is, the fundamental task of translation.

First of all, the fundamental task of translation

Translation is the conversion from the source language to the target language, and the content of another language is expressed in one language form. Language is a communication tool developed by people through long-term communication in a certain natural and social environment and belongs to a part of culture. So when one language communicates with another, what actually happens is the communication between different cultures. It can be said that translation is a cross-cultural communication behavior, and the fundamental task of translation is to introduce the source culture to the target readers. Andre Lefevere thinks that translation is "cultural adaptation", while R Daniel Shaw puts forward the term "cross-cultural communication".

Secondly, the influence of cultural factors on translation.

The inseparable relationship between language and culture determines the close relationship between translation and culture, and the fundamental task of translation is the communication between the two cultures. Talking about translation without cultural factors is tantamount to a tree without roots. A culture's long-standing values and basic judgments on life will be displayed anytime and anywhere. No matter what style, it is possible to reveal some middle or deep value judgments of its culture through language. An important task of the translator is to convey the meaning of the original text, show the cultural origin and color of the original text, especially the cultural values implied in the source language, so that the target readers can understand them. Therefore, translators should consider both the choice of words and cultural factors in the process of translation. Eugene, a translation theorist? Nida said: "For a truly successful translation language, it is even more important to be familiar with two cultures than to master two languages, because words only have meaning in the cultural background where they play a role."

Even if the language reference meaning in the target language and the source culture is the same, it does not mean that the cultural meaning is exactly the same, which is easy to cause misunderstanding in translation, which makes the target language readers misunderstand the source culture. For example, propaganda is often derogatory and does not completely correspond to "propaganda" in Chinese. The same misunderstanding will happen when the translator lacks understanding of the source culture. Translating Water Margin into "We are all brothers" obviously fails to take into account the definition of "brother" in China traditional culture. Although the 100 Dan and the Eight Heroes in Water Margin are brothers, they are actually "orderly", not the equal relationship referred to by brothers. Therefore, Wang Zuoliang thinks: "A translator must be a real cultural person." Therefore, culture is an indispensable factor in translation.

Third, domestication and foreignization.

Because translators have to consider cultural factors in the process of translation, they often encounter another problem: due to the differences between the source culture and the target culture, how to find the corresponding words in the source language has become a major problem for translators. Especially how to deal with the differences between the source culture and the target culture, there are differences in the field of translation, that is, the so-called "adaptation" and "alienation".

1. Transplantation

Domestication means that the target language should be the destination of translation. Domestication holds that it is dangerous to try to impose the system of the source culture on the target culture, so one of the responsibilities of the translator is to avoid cultural conflicts and overcome cultural obstacles in translation. When transplanting a text into another culture, the translator should carefully weigh the ideological connotation in the culture to avoid various forms of misunderstanding caused by cultural conflicts. If the contents and methods of translation are within the target readers' cognitive range of the real world, readers can better understand translation. Therefore, it is necessary to transform the source culture into the target culture as much as possible.

Domestication translation increases the readability of the translation and is easy to understand, which conforms to the norms of the target culture. For example, when readers read articles such as practical styles, publicity materials and announcements, their requirements are not to understand the source language and culture, but for recreation or other purposes. When translating these styles of articles, translators adopt domestication strategies to help target readers understand the translation. However, any style adopts domestication, and the vivid association in the original text is often replaced by non-cultural language, which will dilute the cultural color of the original text. Look at this sentence: history always blames Helen of Troy for the fall of kings, which is unfair. If you translate this sentence into "Historians often blame the downfall of the kingdom on the femme fatale", you will lose the image of "Helen of Troy" with foreign culture.

Step 2 alienate

Foreignists who advocate the preservation of the source language and culture in translation believe that it is necessary to let the target readers know about foreign cultures. Transplanting the source culture into the target culture will enrich the language expression of the target culture and the target language, which is the main purpose of translation-cultural exchange. A translation cannot be regarded as "faithful to the original" if it cannot convey the phenomenon of the source language world.

Translators should make it clear that the recipients of the target language have certain abilities of thinking, reasoning, judgment and understanding. In short, the target language readers are receptive, and they can understand the cultural meaning and taste the exotic cultural flavor according to the context of the target language. Secondly, the target language readers already have the purpose of understanding the source language culture when reading the translation, so they want to read exotic sentences. The translator's task is to put the source language

It is of great benefit to introduce foreignization translation to target readers.

Fourthly, the significance of foreignization translation.

In his Translation Strategy, Venuti defined foreignization translation as "deviating from the local mainstream values and retaining the differences between the original language and culture". (Venuti, 200 1: 240) The theoretical basis of alienation is the openness and permeability of language. Language and culture itself is an open system with immeasurable absorption and tolerance. Foreignization can enrich the vocabulary of the target language, inject foreign culture and enhance cross-cultural understanding.

1. Foreignization translation can enrich the target language.

Foreignization translation can make the translator get rid of the constraints of the target language and text, adopt a more flexible way, while retaining the linguistic and cultural differences of the original, and translate articles with exotic flavor and color, giving the target readers a strange, fresh and different reading experience, so as to further understand the fresh and unfamiliar foreign culture. This is also the purpose of the translator's translation activities-introducing the source culture to the target readers. For example, in Chinese, there are: showing cards and breaking records; There are Yin and Yang (Yin and Yang), Feng Shui (Feng Shui), Sushi (Sushi) and Yoga (Yoga) in English. These words are not in the Chinese or English language system. With the increasingly frequent cultural exchanges between countries, these loanwords are presented to domestic readers through foreignization translation, and gradually accepted, widely spread and used.

2. Foreignization translation can promote cross-cultural communication

When the target language readers accept those loanwords, they are actually in direct contact with the culture of another country. In the process of slowly accepting loanwords, they consciously understand foreign cultures, enhance mutual understanding between different cultures, reduce misunderstandings caused by cultural differences and ease cultural conflicts. Try to compare the following words: the cat cries the mouse, pretending; Rome was not built in a day. Rome was not built in a day. It is not difficult to find that through foreignization translation, we can understand the different symbols in English and Chinese, oriental readers will have a better understanding of western culture, and will also express "crocodile tears" in Chinese.

With the globalization of global economy and culture, translators have the responsibility to let the target readers know about the source culture and promote the communication between different cultures through reading.

conclusion

The author believes that as long as the translator is good at using foreignization translation, he can make up for the deficiency of domestication translation, and the two complement each other. If the translator can flexibly use the methods of foreignization and domestication, he can present a fluent, beautiful, exotic and rich foreign culture translation for readers.

References:

Eugene Nida. Language, culture and translation [M]. Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press, 1993.

[2] Wang Zuoliang. Translation: thinking and writing. Beijing: Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 1997.

[3] Venuti, L. Translation Strategies [A]. Encyclopedia of Translation Studies. London and new york: Rutledge Press, May 2006.