Translation as Renarration: Critical Analysis of Iran’s Cultural and Political News in English Western Media and Press from 2000 to 2012

Abstract

This study is an attempt to analyze narrative theory and apply translation assessment model of narrative paradigm on Iran’s translation of cultural and political narratives in western media and press from 2000 to 2012. Referring to Baker’s statement that narratives or stories constitute reality than merely representing it, the paradigm shift led scientists to develop the principles of narrative theory and narrative paradigm in translation studies. To this end, 15 samples from events of Iran’s cultural and political news were selected from western media and news agencies. Four features of narrative theory were applied with respect of equivalence between both Persian and English narratives descriptively, and then assessment model of narrative paradigm was conducted analytically on mere English samples. The results of the study show that four kinds of interfering factors initiated by translators and institutions, namely interference that shapes the text, thematic selection, reframing and selecting translational values as ideological instruments involve in the process of translation in renarrating Iran’s cultural and political news in the western media and news agencies. Also, the assumption referring to the statement “narratives are instrument of mind of translators” is rejected. Finally, the narrative paradigm assumption that indicates narratives constitute reality than merely representing them is supported with respect to the renarration of Iran’s cultural and political news in the western media and press. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n9p608