On Cultural Distance and Translation Strategies

Abstract

This paper attempts at exploring the problems involved in the transfer of meaning from one culture to another as well as possible solutions such as the techniques that can be applied to the successful interpretation of texts in their cultural context. Considering these techniques, it is aimed to see what the most frequently-used strategy in dealing with cultural distance in the process of translating is. In order to cope with the research question, a test comprising 20 culture-bound items was developed and administered to 30 senior undergraduate students of English translation at Islamic Azad University, Karaj Branch. Participants were asked to translate them from English into Persian without any time limitation. After collecting data, the frequency of each strategy was calculated to see which of the following strategies was most frequently-used in dealing with cultural distance in the process of translating: 1- Loan Word (Borrowing) 2- Literal Translation (Literalism) 3- Generic word with a descriptive phrase (Paraphrasing) 4- Cultural Substitute 5- Cultural Equivalence