CONTEXTUAL TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF LITERACY WORKS: THE CULTURAL VALUES AND CUSTOMS THAT THEY REPRESENT
Research Article
CONTEXTUAL TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF LITERACY WORKS: THE CULTURAL VALUES AND CUSTOMS THAT THEY REPRESENT
ABSTRACT
In the world of linguistic awareness and language teaching, we encounter many different sources of
language input, which vary according to the context and the meaning that they represent for the wider
audience. During studies, we are introduced to different literature and written works and are asked to
interpret and re-interpret meanings, decode secret messages or even translate them in our L1. We notice,
by all means, that language, is indeed a complex, ongoing process of transformation. We therefore define
language as a source, by which two or more people are able to convey meaning and understand each other
(get their message across) or as “a code which conveys meaning.” Furthermore, language consists of the
cultural, idiomatic and historical elements of a nation. In the translation of written texts and literature, this
definition is accompanied by the issue of context and meaning or “decoding the message.” Oral and written
translations as such, are important means that contribute in “bringing” different nationalities together. They
serve not only as ‘inter-cultural bridges”, but facilitate technology internships, political issues, world
literature and so on. What theory lies behind written translation? And why is it a source of world-wide
communication? In order to be proficient in written translation, an individual translator must know the
foreign language at a very high level, consisting of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs etc.
and “also have the ability to correctly translate the original feelings and to employ the most appropriate
language means in translation.” This type of translation also requires deep knowledge of ones’ own L1
because written translation must be contextual (based on the context, and not word by word translation) in
order to save the original meaning and form. This paper presents literary and machine translation and
provides the analysis of two very mysterious and distinct written works (of two different cultural
belongings) and at the same time, brings them together through the customs and values and through the two
major characters. It pinpoints the fact that: “contextual literary translation is a type of translation that must
contain “feeling” and sufficient background knowledge (especially in literature) and argues that this is
possible only when certain criteria are met. Among others, it emphasizes the fact that machine translation
versus human translation are two worlds apart and although the process might be faster and easier, the
context and actual meaning do not prevail. This paper also provides different theories, references and
previous commentary on the same.
MIFTARI-FETISHI, I.,
(2022). CONTEXTUAL TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF LITERACY WORKS: THE CULTURAL VALUES AND CUSTOMS THAT THEY REPRESENT. International Journal of Education and Philology, 3(2), 76-85. Arrival Date Posted By:https://ijep.ibupress.com/articles/contextual-translation-and-interpretation-of-literacy-works-the-cultural-values-and-customs-that-they-represent
