Domestication And Foreignization In Translation For Cultural Exchange

Every discipline of research develops with the pace of time. Translation, as a bridge between different cultures, should also develop in both theory and practice in the new era . Translators should be fully aware of their roles as bridge builders to enable people from different cultures to know and learn from each other. Historical changes have taken place in the studies of social sciences,literary criticism and translation theory. The perspective and the focus of the studies have been shifted. In the field of translation"culture study"is arising. Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere once pointed out that a productive study of translation can be only social-historic in nature. The technique of translation to the exclusion of the categories mentioned shall run the risk of not being productive. (1992: 4)The famous Chinese translation theorist Luo Xinzhang(ç½—æ–°ç’‹)also said: "Any translation theory turns to be short-lived just like water without source or a tree without roots, if it becomes disjointed to its nation's translation practice. The so-called brand-new translation theory without origin can only be prevalent for a time but never enduring".(1984:3)Translators used to examine translation on the linguistic level and center on the gains and losses of content and form. But in recent 20 years, more and more translators have become interested in the problems arising from cultural differences. One of the most significant features of contemporary translation theories is the orientation towards cultural rather than linguistic transference. Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere regard this"cultural return"as"a momentous step"(1992: 4)in the field of translation studies. Nida points out that most of the translation errors occur not from the patterns of the complex grammar but from misunderstanding of the source culture.(1964:159) Translation is not only a linguistic transference, but also an intercultural communication. The nature of translation are trans-cultural communication.Generally speaking, there are two basic strategies in dealing with cultural elements involved in translation: domestication and foreignization. Foreignization and domestication have taken over literal translation and free translation to become the focus of debate in translation studies. The traditional literal translation and free translation have been mainly confined to the value of linguistic items; however, foreignization and domestication put more emphasis on cultural values. Domestication means bringing the foreign culture closer to the reader in the target culture, making the target text recognizable and familiar to the readers. Foreignization, on the other hand,...