DTRA340: Translation

Module 7:Translation and culture:

Newmark's Model
 Translation and Culture: Newmark's Model (1988)

Chapter 9
Translation and Culture

Newmark, P. (1988). A textbook of translation. Hertfordshire, England: Prentice

Hall International. ISBN#: 9780139125935 (print).

Short texts in English and /or Arabic can be selected by instructors for practice.
Learning Objectives

Upon the completion of this module , the students will be to

• Recognize the importance of culture in translation.
• Understand Peter Newmark (1988) model of culture.
• Recognize culture-specific words and expressions while translating.
Content

1. Introduction
2. Definition of culture
3. Language ,culture and translation
4. Identifying and translating cultural words and phrases
5. Cultural categories
6. Summary of procedures
7. Translation of proper names (PNs)
8. Translation practice
1. Introduction

• This module introduces students to the topic of translation and culture

with particular focus on Peter Newmark’ Model (1988). It firstly
defines culture and highlights its relationship to translation and
language as well. Then it introduces culture categories; ecology,
material, social , organization. At last, it summarizes translation
procedures used to translate culture words and phrases.
2. Definition of Culture

• Culture: “the way of life and its manifestations that are specific to a community that
uses a particular language as its means of expression.” (Newmark, 1988)
• Culture is distinct from:
• Universal
• Personal
• Can we have multiple cultures within the same language
• Language is not a component of culture
• language is impacted by culture.
• Grammar
• Forms of address
• Terms for natural phenomena
 3. Language, culture and translation

• "There are different theories that have given different definitions on language,
culture and translation and the relationship between them.
• If we think about language, it can be said that in humankind history language has
proved to be the best tool with which human beings could express most of their
feelings, needs, beliefs, experiences and attitudes, and at the same time,
transmitting knowledge and traditions from one generation to another.
• But the problem is that not all people share the same language and culture. So,
there is a need for translation and translators. Therefore, studying language,
culture and translation, and the relationship between them constitutes a crucial
component in translation studies.
3. Language, culture and translation (cont.)

• Studies on language, culture and translation and the relationship between them
are valuable issues due to the importance of human communication in the world.
• The variety of languages with different cultures and necessity of communications
in human life caused translation to be a very effective factor in communicating,
exchanging cultures, and knowledge.
• Thus, it seems that language and culture are closely related and it is essential to
consider both in the process of translation."
3. Language, culture and translation

• As languages and culture are complimentary of each other, and cultural features
of every region is different, translators not only should concentrate on how to
convey the same meaning, but also attempt to show the dissimilarities between
two cultural perspectives.
• As Kramsch (1998) states language is a system of signs that is seen as having itself
a cultural value.
• Speakers identify themselves and others through their use of language; they view
their language as a symbol of their social identity.
4. Identifying and Translating Cultural Word and Phrases

• Detecting culture in language

• Cultural words may be easy to identify.
• Cultural customs embedded in language may be harder to identify.

• Cultural words may need to be translated with a culturally generic term.

• Literal translation of cultural customs may change the meaning.

5. Culture Categories

Ecology
• Unlike most cultural terms, geographic features are typically value-free
• Consider local words for general geographic features.
• Some terms are subject to naturalization.
Material Culture
• Food
• Menus, cookbooks, and tourist brochures often maintain foreign food terms
• Clothes
• Use a generic word plus a more specific classifier where needed
• Housing
• Transport
Translating food menu
Menu
Social Organization
• Institutional terms reflect the political and social spheres in a country
• Some are national terms, or are easily translated if descriptive enough
• Translation of terms may depend on the setting

• Translator must determine whether a translated term will be understood by the

reader.
• Whenever possible, transfer instead of translate for this audience
• When a serious term is translated, include the source language term in
parentheses
Social Organization
Historical terms
• Do not translate unless an already-accepted translation exists
• Transfer with an appropriate descriptive term where needed.
International terms
• Typically there is a recognized translation
• Often known by acronyms.
Artistic terms
• Translation of terms relating to movement, process, and organization depends on
knowledge of the intended audience
• Names of buildings / museums / opera houses are translated as well as transferred
• Many terms remain in their original language if they are regarded as accomplishments
of that culture
6. Summary of Procedures: Frame of Reference

Contextual factors:
• Purpose of text
• Level of readership
• Use of referent in original text
• Setting / situation
• Recency of word
• Future of referent
6. Summary of Procedures: Frame of Reference (cont.)
Translation procedures used to translate culture- specific words
• Transference: It is the process of transferring an SL word to a TL text. It includes transliteration and
is the same as what Harvey (2000:5) named "transcription.

• Cultural Equivalent: It means replacing a cultural word in the SL with a TL one. however, "they are
not accurate" (Newmark, 1988b:83).

• Naturalization: It adapts the SL word first to the normal pronunciation, then to the normal
morphology of the TL. (Newmark, 1988b:82).

• Shifts or transpositions: It involves a change in the grammar from SL to TL, for instance, (i) change
from singular to plural, (ii) the change required when a specific SL structure does not exist in the
TL, (iii) change of an SL verb to a TL word, change of an SL noun group to a TL noun and so forth.
(Newmark, 1988b:86). E.g. It never snows in Africa. ‫ال يتساقط الثلج أبدًا في أفريقيا‬
• ‫بدال عن ال “ُتثلج “ أبدًا في أفريقيا‬.
•
6. Summary of Procedures: Frame of Reference(cont.)

• Descriptive equivalent: In this procedure the meaning of the culture bound

term(CBT) is explained in several words. (Newmark, 1988b:83).

• Paraphrase: In this procedure the meaning of the CBT is explained. Here the
explanation is much more detailed than that of descriptive equivalent. (Newmark,
1988b:91).

• Functional equivalent: It requires the use of a culture-neutral word. (Newmark,

1988b:83)
 7. Translation of Proper Names (PNs)

• Proper names (PNs), which are defined by Richards (1985:68) as "names of a

particular person, place or thing" and are spelled "with a capital letter," play an
essential role in a literary work.
• If we consider personal PNs. They may refer to social status and nationality of
characters, and really demand attention when rendered into a foreign language.

• There are some models for rendering PNs in translations. One of these models is
presented by Hervey and Higgins (1986) who believe that there exist two
strategies for translating PNs. They point out: "either the name can be taken over
unchanged from the ST to the TT, or it can be adopted to conform to the
phonic/graphic conventions of the TL" (p.29).
7. Translation of Proper Names (PNs) (cont.)

• Regarding the translation of PNs, Newmark (1988a:214) asserts that, "normally,

people's first and sure names are transferred, thus preserving nationality and
assuming that their names have no connotations in the text.“

• The procedure of transference cannot be asserted to be effective where

connotations and implied meanings are significant.
8. Translating practice:
‫ليس ُك ل ما يلمُع ذهب‬ Not all that glitters is gold
• ‫الجزع عند المصيبة مصيبة‬ Despondency in misfortune is another misfortune.

‫ترجم الى اللغة اإلنجليزية‬:

‫تم افتتاح المبني الجديد للمؤسسة العامة للتأمينات بالقرب من مباني هيئة اإلذاعة والتلفزيون‬.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
‫ بدأ يشعر بالتعب واليأس في اللحاق بركب القافلة‬.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…
Translate to Arabic Language.
• Decided to travel the world? You would definitely need the ability to communicate in foreign languages to
understand the mind and context of that other culture. English is among the most important languages you
need to speak.

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Reference

Newmark, P. (1988). A textbook of translation. Hertfordshire, England: Prentice

Hall International. ISBN#: 9780139125935 (print).

Short texts in English and /or Arabic can be selected by instructors for practice.
Thank You