Foreignizing Translation In The Context Of Cultural Globalization

The thesis mainly discusses the superiority of foreignization in maintaining cultural differences in the context of cultural globalization. No matter which theory a translator follows, he or she should adopt a kind of translation strategy to finish the work. In the 1970s, when the cultural turn appears in the translation circle, the debate between domestication and foreignization becomes the focus. The same original work would be produced into quite different versions when different strategies are adopted and the translated versions may have quite different effect.With the gradual development of economic globalization in today's world, cultural globalization is becoming more and more prominent, too. However, culture belongs to"soft power", which is conditioned by economy and politics, thus there are"strong culture"and"weak culture". In the process of cultural globalization, a few western developed countries, especially the United States, pursue a strategy of cultural hegemony to retain their ascendancy. Weak culture is suppressed and gradually replaced by strong culture, so translators must resist cultural hegemony and protect cultural identity. Translation is expected not just to convey the meaning of the source text, but also to transfer and protect the source culture. Only in this way can every culture get an equal opportunity for communication and development. With the development of cultural communication among different cultures, nowadays the readers have improved their ability to accept foreign flavor and they except foreign features in translation. So it is necessary and feasible to apply foreignization. Furthermore, foreignizing translation enriches target language and culture quite a lot. In the context of cultural globalization, translation should follow the principle of"harmony in differences". The point of"harmony"is to coordinate the"differences"in order to achieve new harmony. Then all of the different things can get developed and new things generate. The pursuing of new harmony supplies unending source of ideas for the coexistence of multiculturalism. That is to say translators should show the true and special features of the original work, whether strong culture or weak culture, protect the differences of the world cultures, and make harmonious development among different cultures.Promoting foreignization does not mean removing domestication. Foreignizing translation must consider the acceptance of target readers, and not harm target language and culture, since different languages and cultures have essential differences. With gradual development of economic globalization, the degree of acceptance will also be changed. Anyway, foreignizing translation will play a more and more important role in the equal culture communication.