Different Cultures One Language - Crossing The Cultural Gap

Culture

“a complex of beliefs, attitudes, values, and rules which a group of people share” (Larson 1984: 431).

“the way of life and its manifestations that are peculiar to a community that uses a particular language as its means of expression” (Newmark 1998: 94).

“everything that a person should know, be able to feel and to do, in order to succeed in behaving and acting in an environment like somebody from this environment” (Schmitt 1999: 157 cited in Gambier, 2004: 33-4).

Cultural Translation

a disparity between language cultures.

“a translation in which the content of the message is changed to conform to the receptor culture in some way, and/or in which information which is not linguistically implicit in the original is introduced” (Nida and Taber 1969/1982: 199).

Cultural Translation (2)

includes a cultural equation or meaning-inducing tension between the two systems of representation.

involves a process of transferring signification, a commitment to the disparity of two cultures under consideration.

That tension will be revised according to historical and socio-cultural factors.

A Cultural Bird’s Eye View on Translation

“Translation is the most obviously recognizable type of rewriting, and it is potentially the most influential because it is able to project the image of an author and/or his works beyond the boundaries of their culture of origin”. (Lefevre 1992a:9)

A Cultural Bird’s Eye View on Translation(2)

Translation aims at bringing back “a cultural other as the same, the recognizable, even the familiar; and this aim always risks a wholesale domestication of the foreign text, often in highly self conscious projects, where translation serves an appropriation of foreign cultures for domestic agendas, cultural, economic, and political.” (Venuti 1995: 18)

The translator as a mediator

“The receptor audience will decode the translation in terms of their own culture and experience, not in terms of the culture and experience of the author and audience of the original document.

The translator then must help the receptor audience understand the content and intent of the source document by translating with both cultures in mind.” (Larson 1984: 436-7)

What is "Intercultural Dialogue"?

A colourful exchange, more than a conversation, more even than a dialogue, in which boundaries are being crossed, assumptions put aside, and new visions come to mind.

An eternal exchange of ideas, knowledge and beliefs between people from culturally diverse backgrounds. It is a dialogue that not always implies an agreement on one or another aspect, but requires trust, respect, and self-understanding in order to maintain it in a peaceful and constructive way.

What is "Intercultural Dialogue"? (2)

An open and respectful exchange or interaction between individuals, groups and organizations with different cultural backgrounds or world views.

Its aims are:

to develop a deeper understanding of diverse perspectives and practices;

to increase participation and the freedom and ability to make choices;

to foster equality;

to enhance creative processes.

Sample & Comments

Daughter: I want to sleep over at Judy's house this Friday. I have never done that before but I am certainly old enough!

Mother: I see that you really want to go over to Judy's house to spend the night I don't know Judy and her family well. Can you tell me more about them? Who else will be there?

If my parents are strict, it means they do not trust me, and are not allowing me to be myself - If I am strict, I am a good parent

D: Does it matter? You know I can take care of myself.

M: I have some concerns about your safety and rest. Are the parents going to be home?

Let me make my own mistakes and learn from them - I have a responsibility to guide my children properly and to prevent them from making mistakes

D: No, but we are going to be okay. It’s time I made my own decisions. You know you can trust me, I will be alright.

M: You won’t tell me anything. It’s out of discussion. As long as you live under my shelter you will do as I say.

I want my parents to listen to me. I want to hear encouragement and to be shown physical affection - Showing affection is totally unfamiliar to me and the way I was brought up. My love should be understood from my actions

I want privacy in my personal life. What to reveal or to keep private is up to me - As a parent, I have a right to know. I am afraid my children will be influenced others and thus escape 'responsibilities'

Sample & Comments (2)

D: You are not listening to me. Why don’t you trust me?

M: I am your mother, I know what’s best for you.

Let me make my own mistakes and learn from them – I have a responsibility to guide my children properly and to prevent them from making mistakes

D: You always say this. You always treat me like a child. I want to

M: I won’t have that tone. You’ll do as I say. When you’ll be older you’ll see I was right.

I want to be treated with respect and addressed in a reasonable way. If I am being 'yelled at,' I do not want to listen to my parents – I speak in a loud 'authoritative' way which means I am serious, and I am very concerned

D: I want to be able to choose for myself, I know what I want.

M: I know better than you do, I was your age. I’ve been thorugh these things. You’ll listen to me.

I want to be able to make my own decisions and to be respected and supported in these decisions - As a parent, I have the responsibility and knowledge/ experience to know what is important and 'fitting'

D: You never let me do anything, you always say you know better. I’m sick of it.

M: You will show me some respect, I won’t have you talk back to me. You’re not going anywhere, period.

I want to be treated with respect and addressed in a reasonable way. If I am being 'yelled at,' I do not want to listen to my parents - In a loud 'authoritative' style of communication which is the way many parents talk to their children. It means I am serious, and I am very concerned.