On The Translator's Role As A Cultural Mediator

Translators are the subjects of the translation practice and they facilitate the cross-cultural communication through their great efforts in translating. However, the great importance of the translator has not been fully realized even today, not to mention in the history when linguistics-oriented theory and manipulation theory once prevailed.In the age of globalization, the close relationship between language and culture determines that the translator is no longer a pure language operator. In other words, they are supposed to work at the level of culture. This paper holds that translation in the age of globalization is the process of conflict between different cultures and the translator correspondently acts as the mediator between these two parties (source and target culture). To function as a qualified cultural mediator, the translator should hold the dialogue between source and target cultures in an equal condition and produce a hybrid culture, which is satisfactory to both source and target culture. Only in this way can the translator function as the bridge between two different cultures and reach the mutual understanding between them. Meanwhile, when viewed as a cultural mediator, the translator will definitely break away from the manipulation of dominant culture and his subjectivity will be fully manifested. In a word, considering the translator as a cultural mediator is helpful for constructing cultural pluralism in the world, which is the correct way of cultural globalization.