constructing pathways to translation - Higher Education Commission

features with their roots in the Source Culture. The result is to minimize ‘foreign’
features in the TT, thereby naturalizing it in to the TL and its cultural setting.
The various degrees of Cultural Transposition can be visualized as points along a scale
between the extremes of exoticism and cultural transplantation.
Exoticism Cultural
Calque Communicative
Borrowing
Translation
96
Cultural
Transplantation
Figure 2.12 Degrees of Cultural Transposition (Adapted from Harvey and Higgins,
1992 : 28)
Some of the most straightforward examples of basic issues in Cultural Transplantation
are offered by place names and proper names. In translating names, there are at least two
alternatives. Either the name can be taken over unchanged from the ST to the TT. This
alternative is tantamount to Literal Translation, and involves no Cultural Transposition.
It is a form of Exoticism. In the second case, the name is adapted to conform to the
phonic/graphic conventions of the TL. This alternative amounts to Translation and is
less extreme; conversional conventions are used to alter the phonic/ graphic shape of a
ST name, so that it comes more into line with TL pattern of pronunciation and speaking.
A further alternative in translating names is Cultural Transplantation. This is an
extreme degree of Cultural Transposition. SL names are replaced by indigenous TL
names that are not their literal equivalent, but have similar cultural connotation.
When translating names, one must, therefore be aware of three things. First, existing
options for transplanting a particular name, second, the implication of following a
particular option, and third, all the implications of a choice between Exoticism,
Transliteration, Cultural borrowing, Calque and Cultural Transplantation and all the
types of Cultural Translations.
2.6.7.1 PROCEDURE AND STRATEGIES FOR THE TRANSLATION OF
CULTURE
Translation is a way of establishing contacts between cultures. Since language and
culture are inextricably interwoven, the integration of an element into a culture cannot be
said to have been achieved, unless and until the linguistic expression of that element has