Cultural Approaches to Translation Studies

Introduction

• Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere reject linguistic theories of translation, focusing instead on the interaction between translation and culture.
• Cultural studies examine the impact of culture on translation and contextual issues.
• The "cultural turn" emphasizes translation as a cultural and political act, examining issues like power dynamics in publishing, feminist translation, appropriation, colonialism, and rewriting.

Translation as Rewriting

• Lefevere argues that those in power positions rewrite literature for consumption.
• Rewriting can be motivated by ideology (conforming to or challenging dominant ideas) or poetics (conforming to or challenging dominant styles).
• Edward Fitzgerald's translation of Omar Khayyam exemplifies rewriting, as it aimed to improve the Persian text and conform to Western literary conventions.
• Translation is the clearest example of rewriting, influencing the image of an author and their work beyond their initial cultural context.

Literary System

• The literary system is influenced by three factors:
  • Professionals within the system (critics, teachers, translators) who shape the reception and interpretation of the work.
  • External patronage (individuals or institutions) impacting literary production.
  • Dominant poetics (literary conventions) that determine acceptable literary forms and genres, and literature's place in society.

Translation and Gender

• Simon views translation with a gender studies perspective, highlighting sexism in translation studies.
• Examples of gendered translation practices include seventeenth-century translations into French that focused on aesthetic qualities and ignored fidelity.
• Feminists draw parallels between the marginalization of translation and the marginalization of women in society.
• One feminist translator views her work as political, aiming to highlight women's voices.
• Examples include linguistic markers of gender, using "auther" instead of "author" to emphasize feminine identity.

Postcolonial Translation Theory

• Spivak critiques the ideological consequences of translating Third World literature into English.
• Critiques the way Western feminists expect feminist literature from different cultures to conform to Western standards.
• Translation and colonization are linked, with translation often used to develop a specific, possibly biased, image of the East, rather than a neutral translation.
• Colonial powers use translation to re-present colonized peoples.

Explore the interactions between translation and culture through the lens of Susan Bassnett and Andre Lefevere. This quiz examines concepts like cultural dynamics, power in translation practices, and the implications of rewriting texts in different cultural contexts. Test your understanding of how ideology and poetics influence the translation process.