English-speaking Audience Research Articles

An eco-social turn in social pedagogy

Social pedagogy has traditionally been classified into three main paradigms following the theory of knowledge interests by Jürgen Habermas: the positivist, the hermeneutical and the critical paradigm. In this article, we argue that the increased discussion of ecological and eco-social questions in social pedagogy are more than just new perspectives in social pedagogical theory and research: specifically, they are a sign of an eco-social turn and an emerging new paradigm, which presents the whole field with a challenge comparable to the so-called emancipatory turn in 1960s Germany. Back then, the rise of more critical views of society and the increasing role of social pedagogy in maintaining oppressive structures challenged the (at that time) dominant hermeneutical and positivist paradigms and called for a more critical analysis of societal structures. The emancipatory turn led to the development of the critical paradigm, which posed an ontological, epistemological and methodological challenge to the whole discipline and led to new discussions of the worldview and purpose of social pedagogy. We argue that in the 2020s, social pedagogy faces an equivalent transformative turn that challenges the whole field. The article is based on theoretical analysis of the current discussions in the field and aims to establish a meta-theoretical framework for existing and emerging discussions, which can be labelled eco-social. The concept of the eco-social turn has been presented in Finnish in a textbook published in 2024; this article presents the concept to English-speaking audiences and develops it further.

Historicus* in Resonance, Understanding, Encounter

In this miniature the author of the book “Historicus* - Wie wir Geschichte erleben” (2023) presents his key ideas to an English-speaking audience. He analyses individual “historical acts”, describing them under the perspective of “Resonance”, “Understanding”, and “Encounter” and uses various language games to do this (e.g. Hartmut Rosa, Charles Taylor, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Avishai Margalit or Emanuel Levinas). At the end he transforms his theoretical results into the profile of a persona called Historicus*

A Comparative Analysis of Urdu and Arabic Proverbs: Cognitive Blending in Translation and Cultural Disparities

This study explores the translation of Urdu and Arabic proverbs into English, focusing on how Cognitive Blending Theory (CBT) can explain the cognitive and cultural shifts that occur during the translation process. Proverbs, as expressions of cultural wisdom, often carry deeply embedded moral lessons, social values, and emotional nuances that may be altered or lost in translation, particularly when moving between languages as distinct as Urdu and Arabic. By applying CBT, this research investigates how different mental spaces within the source languages blend to create meaning and how these blends are affected when translated into English. The study identifies significant cultural differences between Urdu and Arabic proverbs, emphasizing how these differences shape the cognitive blending process and, ultimately, the translation outcome. It also examines the challenges faced by translators in maintaining the integrity of the original cultural context while adapting proverbs for an English-speaking audience. The findings highlight the importance of understanding cultural and conceptual knowledge in the culture of source languages and the culture of the target languages through the translation of proverbs. This paper contributes to the field of translation studies by demonstrating the relevance of CBT in translating culturally rich expressions and offering insights into the cognitive processes at play during this challenging aspect of translation.

Culture-specific items (CSIs) of Eka Kurniawan's Cantik Itu Luka in its English and Russian translations

This research investigates (1) types of culture-specific items (CSIs), (2) translation techniques applied to CSIs, and (3) translation ideologies employed by the translators of Eka Kurniawan's novel Cantik Itu Luka into its English (Beauty is a Wound) and Russian (Красота – это горе) translations by Annie Tucker and Marina Izvekova, respectively. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study identifies 110 CSIs based on Newmark's classification and analyzes translation techniques through Vinay and Darbelnet’s framework and Venuti’s ideologies of foreignization and domestication. The findings reveal that the culture-specific items (CSIs) identified in the novel fall into several categories: material culture, social culture, organizations, customs, ideas, activities, procedures, concepts, ecology, and gestures and habits. In translating these CSIs, the English version predominantly employed borrowing (39%), amplification (19%), and generalization (13%) techniques. Meanwhile, the Russian translation primarily utilized literal translation (35%), borrowing (28%), and amplification (16%). The English translation's preference for borrowing and amplification techniques aligns with a foreignization ideology, introducing Indonesian culture to English-speaking audiences with minimal alteration. Conversely, the Russian translation leans toward domestication, favoring literal translation (35%) and borrowing (28%) for cultural adaptation.

TRANSLATION STRATEGIES OF ONOMASTIC REALIA (PROPER NAMES) IN TWO TRANSLATED WORKS OF D. O. FAGUNWA

The translation of proper names in literature is a critical aspect of the broader process of translation, a conduit for conveying cultural meanings, symbols, and identities which has attracted sparse considerations in research. This study explores the translation strategies used in the rendering of proper names in D.O. Fágúnwà’s works, specifically focusing on place names and person names, as analyzed through Vinay and Darbelnet’s translation procedures and Nyström’s onomastic theory. By examining the translation of Yoruba proper names in Fágúnwà's texts, this study investigates the delicate balance translators must maintain between preserving the cultural, symbolic, and linguistic integrity of the source text while making the translated names comprehensible to the target audience. The study highlights various strategies, including borrowing, adaptation, literal translation, and modulation, and their relevance in a Yoruba-English context. Through detailed examples, the research demonstrates how each strategy works to either retain or transform cultural significance, ensuring that the essence of the original text is conveyed to an English-speaking audience. By applying the theoretical frameworks of Vinay and Darbelnet and Nyström, the study provides valuable insights into the complexities of translating proper names in literary works and emphasizes the critical role of these names in cross-cultural communication and identity. The findings suggest that the translator’s choices are central to both the preservation of cultural richness and the accessibility of the text, with implications for further research in translation studies and onomastics.

Programming Britishness: The Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company’s 1937 Tour of South Africa

Abstract This article provides a snapshot of the Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company’s ‘Coronation’ tour in 1937, focusing particularly on the company’s time in Johannesburg. It considers the Carl Rosa’s tour as a ‘cultural colonisation’ endeavour on the part of the British Empire, aimed at reinforcing identity politics at a time when loyalty to the Empire was waning. The article examines the significance of the Carl Rosa’s tour within the broader context of British colonial relations and the Coronation celebrations of George VI in the Union. Central to its argument is the analysis of the tour’s commemorative programme, published by African Consolidated Theatres (ACT), which serves as a lens to understand the articulation of Dominion South Africanism amongst English-speaking audiences. Through an examination of primary sources and historical context, this article sheds light on the complexities of imperial encounters and the role of cultural exchange in perpetuating colonial power dynamics.

THE AGENCY OF TRANSLATION IN POLITICS AND FICTION: TEXTUAL CASES OF RUSSIA'S FULL-SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE

Background. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has not left unaffected the field of language, ranging from changes in the perception of the Russian and Ukrainian languages and the emergence of new lexemes pertinent to the new realities. While copious amounts of research have already been dedicated to the issues delineated above, relatively little attention has so far been paid to relevant translation issues. Given the complex background of Russia-Ukraine relations, such issues are manifested across different domains, including that of literature and politics – which, it can be argued, sometimes intersect. The paper seeks to fill the gap in the study of the linguistic aspects of the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine through the medium of translation. Methods. Drawing upon previous extensive research of the role of translation in the faithful rendering of political and literary discourses in the wider historical context of Russia-Ukraine relations, the authors employ discourse analysis and case studies to delineate some of the key challenges presenting themselves before a translator in communicating to global English-speaking audiences. Results. It is posited that translation issues regarding the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia are inextricably related to the historical background of the two countries' relations and is to be taken into consideration in order to produce a faithful rendition from and into English. The ongoing hostilities have also brought to the fore the use of newly emerging lexemes and the issues of their translation for English-speaking audiences. Conclusions. The research invites further discussion of the impact of war on linguistics and translation, including normalisation of the pejorative discourse vis-à-vis the perceived enemy and the concept of 'mockslation', suggested here to describe new lexemes arising from intentional or unintentional deficiencies in translation.

Different Roles Played by Translators While Recontextualizing Turkish Literature: Navigating Contextual Voices

National literature can only gain recognition in other languages through translation, which places an important responsibility on the translator, especially in the process of recontextualization. This study examines the multiple roles translators play in the internationalization of Turkish literature. Focusing on The Turkish Theatre, Tales Alive in Turkey, and Yunus Emre: Selected Poems, different roles assumed by translators are explored within the framework of textual and contextual voices in translation. The works analyzed in this study are characterized by a large number of contextual materials such as prefaces, introductions, notes, and introductory chapters most of which are written by the translators themselves. Therefore, the concept of textual and contextual voices is used as a framework to analyze the different roles of translators in the re-contextualization of Turkish literature. By examining all these contextual voices, it is assumed that the role of translators as agents with different responsibilities in the recontextualization of Turkish literary products for English-speaking audiences can be better understood. The analysis has shown that by writing introductory parts, selecting specific plays, tales, and poems, and framing them for foreign audiences, the translators contribute to the recontextualization, transmission, and reception of Turkish literature in ways that go beyond mere linguistic translation and shape its reception in the English-speaking world. In doing so, they assumed roles not only as translators but also as authors, cultural mediators, informants, facilitators of cross-cultural understanding, and even editors, which may reveal the multifaceted responsibilities of translators in the recontextualization of national literature for a foreign audience.

Navigating Cultural Sensitivity in Translation: The Role of Interpersonal Communication in Translating Sensitive Narratives

This study examines the role of interpersonal communication and cultural sensitivity in shaping translation outcomes, focusing on Un Nègre A Violé Une Blonde À Dallas by Ramonu Sanusi, translated by Joel Akinwumi and Kehinde Makinde (2016). The objective is to analyze how translators balance fidelity to the original text by adapting it to the cultural sensibilities of the target audience, particularly regarding sensitive themes of race and violence. Through a comparative textual analysis of the original French text and its English translation, this study highlights shifts in meaning, cultural adaptation, and the impact of interpersonal dynamics between the author and translators. Interviews with translators and a framework for cultural sensitivity evaluation were employed to explore further how these dynamics influence translation decisions. The findings reveal that while maintaining fidelity to the original, the translators strategically adapted certain elements to prevent cultural misunderstandings, ensuring the narrative's accessibility to English-speaking audiences. The discussion highlights the translators' role as cultural mediators and suggests strategies for managing similar complex narratives in future translation projects. This research underscores the importance of open communication between authors and translators and calls for further exploration into diverse narratives where interpersonal communication plays a crucial role in translation accuracy and cultural adaptation.

Celebrating Jürgen Habermas and the Institute for Social Research: Reflections on the history of critical theory from a jubilee year

2024 was a jubilee year for the Frankfurt School. On July 24, the Institute for Social Research ( Institut für Sozialforschung), the birthplace of critical theory, marked its centennial. A month earlier, Jürgen Habermas, who is often seen as the intellectual leader of the second generation of the Frankfurt School, celebrated his 95th birthday. In Germany, these overlapping anniversaries have been met with the publication of a number of books on Habermas and the critical theory tradition more generally. Despite the globalization of theorizing within the tradition of the Frankfurt School over the past 50 years, much of its intellectual history of it is still produced in Germany by German scholars based on sources and archives held in the Federal Republic. This Spotlight reviews the main findings and conclusions of this literature for an international, English-speaking audience. It concludes by reflecting on whether critical theory has succeeded—and if so, how.

The Role of Translation in Shaping Islamic Discourse in News Reporting: Arabic in BBC News Reporting

This is Study aim to the role of news translation in portraying the Islamist discourse in news reports produced by the BBC and Al Arabiya. This study is qualitative. Multidisciplinary in nature, combining translation studies, media studies, and news discourse studies, to achieve study objectives, a comprehensive analysis of news reports from both news organizations will been conducted. It focuses on the textual analysis of Arabic and English versions of news reports, exploring translation patterns and strategies. The analysis delves into labeling practices, language rules, and the use of direct and indirect quotations from Islamists, and contextualization and reconceptualization. Additionally, it examines the visibility of translation in the news reports, comparing how direct and indirect quotations presented in the English and Arabic versions. The study also outlines the prominent hallmarks of the Islamist discourse, emphasizing the use of emotive language, references to Islamic texts, and specific terminology. Furthermore, it addresses the challenges faced by translators in conveying the conative and affective aspects of Islamic terminology to English-speaking audiences, highlighting the need for scrutiny of the translator's art.

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ПЕРЕКЛАДАЦЬКИХ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЙ В ТУРИСТИЧНОМУ ДИСКУРСІ (НА МАТЕРІАЛІ РЕКЛАМНИХ ТЕКСТІВ ГОТЕЛІВ УКРАЇНИ)

The research is devoted to the study of the specifics of translating tourist texts in the context of intercultural communication, which is particularly relevant for Ukraine in the context of post-war recovery. The tourism sector plays an important role in shaping the country’s positive image on the international stage, and high-quality translation of tourist materials is a key factor in successful communication with foreign tourists. The research focuses on the analysis of translations from Ukrainian into English. The primary subject of the study is the websites of Ukrainian hotels that provide information in both Ukrainian and English. A comparative analysis of the texts revealed the most common translation strategies used to adapt tourist materials for an English-speaking audience. Among the main translation techniques used were lexical transformations, such as transcription, as well as lexico-semantic methods (generalization, specification, addition, omission, metaphorization). Grammatical transformations, including conversion, sentence element substitution, and inversion, also played an important role in the translation process. Particular attention was given to the adaptation of proper names, as their correct transmission in a foreign language context can enhance audience understanding. The phenomenon of antonymic translation was also considered. The study emphasizes the role of the translator as a mediator between cultures, whose work is aimed not only at accurate content delivery but also at creating texts that are informative, understandable, and appealing to a foreign audience. The results of the study can be useful for translators working in the field of tourism as well as for developers of tourist materials targeting the international market.

Cross-Cultural Echoes: Exploring Cultural Nuance through Student Translation Practices

While numerous studies have explored the methodologies of professional translators, less attention has been paid to how translation students, particularly those new to the field, navigate the complexities of translating cultural texts. This study addresses a significant gap in translation pedagogy, focusing on how advanced translation students navigate the complexities of cultural text translation, an area often overlooked compared to studies on professional translators. Employing a qualitative research design, the study analyzed the translation strategies of five advanced students tasked with translating culturally rich texts from Indonesian to English. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyses of their translations. The findings reveal that 45% of the students’ strategies involved foreignization, which preserved cultural elements of the source text, while 30% used adaptation to recontextualize culturally embedded ideas for English-speaking audiences. Domestication was employed in 15% of cases to make the text more accessible, and explicit cultural explanations were used in 10% of the translations to elaborate on concepts with no direct equivalents. These results underscore the students’ conscious balancing of cultural preservation with the need for clarity. The study highlights the need to incorporate cultural competence into translation education, focusing on teaching methods that help students handle cultural nuances effectively. These findings offer valuable quantitative and qualitative insights that can inform the creation of culturally sensitive translation programs and enhance intercultural communication.

Translating and performing China for the English-speaking stage: Royal Shakespeare Company’s re-staging of The Injustice to Dou E

Contemporary China is increasingly open in its interaction with the global cultural community, generating one of the most prestigious projects—the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Chinese Classics Translation Projects” (2015–2023). This article examines this project’s first production Snow in Midsummer, a performance based on a new translation of the Chinese classic Dou E Yuan (窦娥冤, The Injustice to Dou E That Moved Heaven and Earth). Through exploring the multiple agents involved in the RSC’s re-staging of the play, this article traces the processes of translation and performance characterised by an oft-hidden collaborative agency. It uncovers the collaborative agency at work and argues that the agency in this theatre production aims to set the conditions to make the original Chinese classic new, so as to enable its rejuvenation and transformation. Key finding of this article is that the collaborative agency of the translator, playwright, director, stage designer, and actors/actresses in re-staging has enlivened the 13th-century Chinese classic with enriched narratives and produced a performance that is nuanced and relevant to the contemporary world. This article makes a case for the paradigmatic shift from a product-based approach to theatre translation to a process-based one. It opens new avenues to future research into the question of complexity of collaborative agency in restaging the foreign classic to the contemporary English-speaking audiences for both areas of theatre translation for performance and transnational theatre production.

Depiction of Uzbek agricultural practices and the everyday lives of its people as portrayed in literary works

This article investigates the depiction of Uzbek agricultural practices and the everyday lives of its people as portrayed in early 20th-century literary works. By analyzing selected texts, this study explores how authors of the period represented the agricultural landscape, farming techniques, and social dynamics within Uzbek society. The research further examines the challenges and intricacies involved in translating these cultural depictions into English, with a particular focus on Gafur Gulom's "Shum Bola" (Naughty Boy). The study highlights the translator's role in preserving the original cultural nuances while conveying the text's meaning to an English-speaking audience. Through this analysis, the article underscores the complexities of literary translation, especially in maintaining the authenticity of national characteristics in cross-cultural contexts.

A Paratextual Approach to Disney’s New Mulan in China: Localization and Reception

ABSTRACT This article examines both industry-created and viewer-created paratexts of Disney’s new Mulan (2020) to shed light on the localization of industry-created paratexts for Chinese audiences, the reception of the film, and the tensions between industry-created and viewer-created paratexts in China. It reveals that Disney has localized the poster, trailers and promos of Mulan for Chinese audiences by highlighting the film’s all-star cast and creating an illusion of its faithfulness to The Ballad of Mulan, and the extolled virtues of filial piety and patriotism cherished in Chinese culture. The viewer-created paratext, danmu, of Mulan challenges the industry-created paratexts and demonstrates unfavorable reception of the film in China. It criticizes the film for its inauthenticity to The Ballad of Mulan, cultural appropriation, promotion of American values to meet the needs of English-speaking audiences for exoticness and cultural otherness. By investigating danmu as a viewer-created paratext, the present study has enriched paratextual research and reception studies in translation, media and film studies in the digital age.

A Study on Translation of Proper Nouns in the English Version of the 1986 TV Series Journey to the West from the Perspective of Transcreation

“Transcreation” is a combination of “translation” and “creation”, and refers to the process of translating a message into another language while preserving its original creative intent. In the era of economic globalization and cultural diversity, transcreation has been widely used and practiced in cross-language and cross-cultural translation activities such as video games, websites, audiovisual products, literature, etc. Scholars, domestic and abroad, have been paying increasing attention to the study of creative translation in recent years. The Chinese television series Journey to the West, which debuted in 1986, is a classic. This TV series has remained popular for decades and now settled into the collective memory of Chinese people. Its English translation was shown on the CCTV app in 2021, helping to spread the knowledge of Journey to the West among English-speaking audiences. Through the lens of transcreation, this essay aims to analyze the translation of proper names in the English version of the 1986 TV series Journey to the West. Additionally, it seeks to examine the potential motivations behind the translator(s)’s use of transcreation, as well as its expressive effects. The essay recognizes the shortcomings of the existing translation version and makes some recommendations for improvement. Meanwhile, based on the research findings, it puts forward feasible suggestions on English translation of proper names in films and television works on traditional Chinese culture in order to better promote the spread of traditional Chinese culture.

When Saudis Stop Being Humorous: The Subtitling and Reception of Saudi Dark Humour in Masameer County

This study is designed to examine the effect that Netflix English subtitles might have on the way English-speaking viewers receive Saudi dark humour. To achieve this, the researchers analyse Netflix’s English subtitling of two episodes of the Saudi adult animation Masameer County, which is known for its humorous discussion of sensitive issues in Saudi society. This study hypothesises that, partly due to sociocultural considerations, the humorous elements found in the Saudi animation is more appreciated and understood by Saudis than English speakers. It is also hypothesised that the inaccurate translation of specific humorous elements by the non-Saudi subtitler further aggravates the difficulty English-speaking audiences understanding the animation’s dark humour. To assess these hypotheses, the active role of the subtitler is considered. This is achieved by employing the sociological lens of habitus developed by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu. To understand the subtitler’s habitus, the subtitler was interviewed to reveal the personal/social factors that affected her translation’s decisions regarding specific humorous scenes. The outcome of these decisions is assessed by examining their reception by English-speaking viewers. A questionnaire was conducted with English-speaking viewers asked to watch the two episodes of Masameer County under examination. The questionnaire shows that the English-speaking viewers did not receive the Saudi humour with all its sociocultural associations. The findings reveal that the subtitler’s habitus exerted powerful effects on her translational choices, which led to a loss of the Saudi humorous sense in the English-speaking viewers.

Sequence of learning the grammar of Turkic languages in an English-speaking audience

Relevance. The relevance of the subject matter is related to the growing interest in the study of Turkic languages among the English-speaking audience, due to globalisation and the expansion of cultural and economic ties. This requires the development of new approaches to teaching, considering linguistic characteristics. Purpose. The purpose of the study was to develop an effective methodology for teaching grammar of Turkic languages aimed at English-speaking students. Methodology. To create the methodology, a detailed analysis of the grammatical features of the Turkic and English languages, an assessment of existing methods, and the development of new educational materials and exercises were carried out. Results. The study demonstrated that an effective instructional approach involves a gradual introduction of grammatical topics, progressing from simple to complex, while emphasizing practical application and communicative exercises. Comparative analysis with English enhances comprehension and retention of grammatical rules, particularly in areas such as word order, sentence structure, and case usage. Interactive learning methods, including group work, role-playing, and discussions, significantly enhance learning outcomes. Special exercises targeting the morphological aspects of Turkic languages, such as agglutination and suffix usage, were developed and found beneficial. The integration of multimedia tools, such as audio and video materials in Turkic languages, alongside information and communication technologies, including online platforms for collaborative learning and interaction with native speakers, aids in improving comprehension and solidifying grammatical structures. Lastly, regular feedback and personalized attention were identified as pivotal factors in successfully mastering Turkic language grammar. Conclusions. The practical significance of the study lies in the development of an effective methodology for teaching grammar of Turkic languages for educational activities. The findings can be integrated into the programmes of teaching Turkic languages in higher educational institutions, contributing to better training of specialists in language specialities. Keywords: morphological features; linguodidactics; pedagogical strategies; communicative approach; educational technologies

Research on Overseas Dissemination of the English Translation of To Live Based on Sentiment Analysis and Topic Mining

Against the background of today s deepening global literary exchange and translation field, a thorough investigation into the international readers responses has become an important task. In this context, this study takes one of Yu Hua s masterpieces, To Live, as a case study, and systematically examines overseas English-speaking audiences reviews of the English translation of To Live on major international book sales and review platforms. The study covers more than 900 English readers comments, including multiple steps of data preprocessing, data description, sentiment analysis and topic mining to obtain comprehensive and in-depth conclusions. The findings of the study show that overseas English readers generally hold a positive attitude towards the English translation of To Live. The comments focus on various levels such as cultural background, writing style, translation, wisdom and emotional experience conveyed by the work, reflection on the novel s main themes, and recognition of the author. This finding reflects the wide resonance of To Live among international readers, and also provides strong empirical support for the global dissemination of Chinese literature.