Abstract
Sociolinguistic and sociocultural features of the source language can be ideally transferred to the target language when the translator’s cultural background knowledge has a high overlap with the source language culture. This signifies the crucial role of national cultural distance from the source language society in the quality of translation of culture-bound texts. To investigate the actual effect of national cultural distance on the quality of translation of culture-bound texts, the current study was conducted on two groups of participants including 38 German undergraduate students of English translation perceived culturally close to Britons (considered as the target language society) and 32 South Korean undergraduate students of English translation perceived culturally distant from Britons. Data were collected through a culture-bound text consisting of some news excerpts from The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used as the translation quality assessment instrument. The analysis of independent-samples t-test revealed the significant positive effect of national cultural distance on the quality of translation of culture-bound texts. The pedagogical implications of the findings suggested incorporation of cultural features of the source language society into every translation course. Keywords: Culture-Bound Texts, National Cultural Distance, Translation Quality
Highlights
As there are culture-loaded expressions in every language (Riccardi, 2002), translating from one language into another language involves comparing the two languages and comparing the two cultures (Nord, 2001)
Translators who come from a country whose cultural features are closer to the cultural features of the source language country are supposed to be more familiar with the cultural features of the source language society as both languages share a lot of cultural features and are supposed to be able to render a more efficient translation than translators who come from countries whose cultural features are distant from the cultural features of the source language country
National cultural distance, which is defined as the degree to which the shared values and norms of a country differ from the shared values and norms of another country, has been presented by Hofstede (2001) in a model which comprises five dimensions of power distance, individualism versus collectivism, masculinity versus femininity, uncertainty avoidance, and Confucian dynamism or short-term versus long-term orientation in life
Summary
As there are culture-loaded expressions in every language (Riccardi, 2002), translating from one language into another language involves comparing the two languages and comparing the two cultures (Nord, 2001). Translators who come from a country whose cultural features are closer to the cultural features of the source language country are supposed to be more familiar with the cultural features of the source language society as both languages share a lot of cultural features and are supposed to be able to render a more efficient translation than translators who come from countries whose cultural features are distant from the cultural features of the source language country This clearly signifies the crucial role of national cultural distance in the quality of translation of culture-bound texts. Confucian dynamism on short-term orientation pole is attributed to respect for tradition, protecting face, personal steadiness and stability, and reciprocation of favors, gifts, and greetings and on long-term orientation pole is attributed to perseverance, ordering relationships by status, thrift, and having a sense of shame (Rafieyan et al, 2014)
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