The Importance of Translating Cultures

Conflict Emergence Due To Opposing Cultures

One of the most eminent concerns prevalent in today’s business and politico-economic world pertains to “conflict”. Conflict is usually a direct consequence of opposing cultures. The parties involved are from different cultural backgrounds. Hence, enabling different viewpoints and opinions, which eventually turn into clashing points. The only way to rectify such conflicts is to promulgate translating cultures. And who can resolve these issues better than translation services, such as Chinese Translation services.

The Need For Translation Services

Translation services specialize in assembling academics and linguists from different cultures who work tirelessly to mediate conflict and bridge gaps. Professional human translators are not only experts in their cultural studies and language history but have attained a sound translation experience. 

This experience has been attained through years of intercultural studies and personal interest in conceptualizing linguistic and traditional preferences and nuances. Hence, there is no substitute for that. Localization companies, such as Malay translation services and Russian Translation services, allocate a huge portion of their resources to acquire experienced professional translators. If you want to learn Chinese languages, then visit chinese tutor in Singapore.

Negotiating Cross-Cultural Differences In Translation

●    The Prevalent Concern Of The Translator Community

Professional human translators often proclaim that translating culture is the most daunting task that they have to perform. This notion is prevalent throughout the translator community.  However, language translation firms, such as Chinese translation services, are very optimistic in the face of this concern. They believe that there is nothing in the discipline of translation that cannot be sorted out.

●    Capitalizing On Common Ground

The cultural variation is overstated by the translator community. Since there is always an identical aspect present between two different cultures, translation firms can capitalize on that. Rather than arguing over the conflicting point, one should aim to relate on common ground.

●    Disseminating Flexibility In Translations

Issues occur when professional translators try to find the exact alternatives of specific terms and expressions in the target language. That is a false approach and methodology. And often leads to errors in translations. To resolve such issues, translators must refrain from the one-to-one equivalent approaches. And disseminate flexibility in translated content.

●    The Issue of Translating Sensitive Expressions

Even if translation companies incorporate flexibility in their translations, there is one issue that needs to be addressed. And that is the challenge of translating sensitive expressions. This aspect is very crucial and extremely daunting for translators. Inaccuracy may lead to offending the religious and traditional sentiments of the society.

And if that happens, chances are high that your translation agency might not be able to revive from the damage. It would aggravate the conflicts between the two opposing cultures. And the initial job that you were given, to bridge the gaps, would eventually fail.

Adopting Foreign Culture In Translations

●    Elucidating Acculturation And its Relevance In Translation

Acculturation is the adoption of various traits and segments of a foreign culture. Meanwhile, keeping intact the original culture as well. When professional translators are facing the issue of translating sensitive expressions, they can adopt the policy of acculturation. In this strategy, you do not need to translate the sensitive materials. Rather, you summon to utilize the alien culture with the goal of supplementing and subscribing it with the original culture. 

●    Diminishing Pessimistic Attitudes

This strategy allows you to avoid getting into the sensitive and intricate cultural issues of the target audience. Meanwhile, it lets you introduce your cultural preferences to the target audience. Moreover, it enables many localization firms, such as Malay translation services, to diminish the pessimistic attitude held by various viewers towards the opposing culture.

●    Strengthening Links Between Opposing Cultures

When professional translators adapt the foreign culture in their translated content, they are able to eradicate pre-conceived notions pertaining to their culture. This strengthens links and ties between the two opposing cultures.

●    Dealing with Cultural Specific Terms

There are certain traditional-specific terms that can not be found in the vocabulary bank of the target language. In this scenario, it’s better to take the same word and use it as it is in the translated content.  For instance, the word “ Ka’aba” in the Arabic language has been taken as it is in other foreign languages.

There are certain phrases that can describe the word “Ka’ba” such as, “Holy place of Allah”, or  “Mecca”. But most of the translation services do not attempt to change the specific words. Moreover,  Russian translation services translate the word, “Kaa’ba” into “Kaapa”, which may appear to be different in written form. But in reality, it is pronounced exactly the same. 

●    Transliterating

In the age of globalization, the interconnectivity between different states has strengthened. Internationalization has led to common phrases and words that are universal around the world, regardless of the language of origin. For instance, ICC, FIFA, SOCIALISM, CAPITALISM, UNO, UNESCO etc. These words are universal and remain the same in every language.

Henceforth, a lot of translators adapt the terms rather than changing the word to fit the linguistic preferences of the target audience., This step is always preferred, as it leads to fewer mistakes and errors. Meanwhile, the message also does not get compromised.  On top of that, it brings together different cultures and communities. And diminishes chances of miscommunication.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the issue of cultural translation. And what can be done to resolve that? It all starts with understanding what factors are responsible for the prevalent differences between different cultures.

Once understood, professional translators need to find the common ground between opposing cultures through the medium of translations. Cross-cultural differences can only be bridged if translation agencies know how to deal with cultural-specific terms. Once that is done, the translation process becomes successful.