CONTEXTUAL TRANSLATION AND INTERPRETATION OF LITERACY WORKS: THE CULTURAL VALUES AND CUSTOMS THAT THEY REPRESENT

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.