Translation Theory. Domestication and Foreignization

Ensayo , 2009 , 8 Páginas , Calificación: Excellent

Filología inglesa - Lingüística

This paper discusses what is meant by ‘domestication’ and ‘foreignization’ of a text and to what extent are these concepts useful for translators today.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• What is meant by ‘domestication' and ‘foreignization' of a text and to what extent are these concepts useful for translators today?
• Early translation theories
• The translator's role as an intermediary
• Berman's "twelve deforming tendencies"
• Venuti's concepts of domestication and foreignization
• The translator's invisibility
• Foreignization as a political and ideological commitment
• The influence of translation on the receiving culture

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This essay examines the concepts of 'domestication' and 'foreignization' in translation theory, exploring their historical roots, main objectives, and contemporary relevance for translators. It delves into the debate surrounding the translator's dual obligations to the source text and the target audience, analyzing how these concepts offer frameworks for navigating this complex relationship.

• The historical evolution of translation theory from literal to free translation
• The translator's role as an intermediary and the impact of their 'visibility'
• The concept of 'naturalization' and its potential deforming tendencies
• The influence of cultural values and expectations on translation practices
• The political and ideological implications of domestication and foreignization

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• This chapter introduces the concepts of 'domestication' and 'foreignization' in translation theory, outlining their significance in understanding the translator's role and the complexities of conveying meaning across cultures.
• This section explores the historical debate surrounding literal versus free translation, highlighting the tension between fidelity to the source text and the desire to engage the target audience. Cicero's approach to translation exemplifies this tension, highlighting the early attempts to navigate cultural differences and achieve a balance between literalness and fluency.
• This chapter examines the translator's role as an intermediary, emphasizing the importance of their 'visibility' in shaping the target audience's perception of the source text. Friedrich Schleiermacher's distinction between moving the reader towards the writer and vice versa lays the foundation for the concepts of domestication and foreignization, highlighting the translator's active role in mediating cultural understanding.
• This chapter focuses on Antoine Berman's "twelve deforming tendencies," which outline potential pitfalls of overly naturalized translations. These tendencies highlight the challenges of preserving the foreignness of a text while ensuring its accessibility to the target audience.
• This section delves into Lawrence Venuti's concepts of domestication and foreignization, analyzing their theoretical underpinnings and practical implications for translators. Venuti emphasizes the influence of cultural values and expectations on translation practices, highlighting the potential for domestication to obscure the foreignness of a text and promote cultural hegemony.
• This chapter explores the concept of the translator's invisibility, examining how domestication can create an illusion of transparency, obscuring the translator's intervention and potentially distorting the original text. Venuti argues that this invisibility is detrimental to the understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures.
• This section examines the political and ideological implications of foreignization, highlighting its potential as a tool for resisting cultural imperialism and promoting intercultural understanding. Venuti emphasizes the importance of foreignization in challenging dominant cultural values and fostering greater awareness of diverse perspectives.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this essay include: domestication, foreignization, translation theory, source text, target text, translator's visibility, cultural values, ethnocentrism, cultural hegemony, intercultural understanding, and political commitment.

• Universidad: University of the West of England, Bristol
• Curso: Translation Theory
• Calificación: Excellent
• Autor: Rene Fassbender (Autor)
• Año de publicación: 2009
• Páginas: 8
• No. de catálogo: V310362
• ISBN (Ebook): 9783668088801
• ISBN (Libro): 9783668088818
• Idioma: Inglés
• Etiqueta: translation, theory, domestication, foreignization