PERSPECTIVE OPEN ACCESS Translating the Untranslatable
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Sandugash et al. Space and Culture, India 2019, 7:1 Page | 250 https://doi.org/10.20896/saci.v7i1.421 PERSPECTIVE OPEN ACCESS Translating the Untranslatable: Challenges, Sticking Points and Struggles Sandugash Sabyrzhanovna Mukhtarova,†* Balgenzhe Karagulova,Ì Zarina Sideshova,† Sabyrzhan Mukhtarov,Î Aliya Yergazina Î and Ilshat Nasipov† Abstract The existence of any nation depends on worldwide communication. In the era of globalisation, translation practices have become even more essential. In the context of communication, cultural translation has always been necessary but little is known as to how untranslatable can be made translatable. From this perspective, this research is a timely addition to the science of translation. Translation demand increases from year to year and so is demand for a general review of papers regarding the role and place of untranslatables in translation. This research aims to present a comparative analysis of Kazakhstani writings and their Russian and English translations. Results show that transliteration is the primary way to translate general ethnographic realia into Russian. The second translation method that is often used is the equivalent translation (using words with meanings that are similar to the meanings of the original words). Additionally, translators may create a calque or new words and phrases. Results obtained can be useful when searching for the most suitable translation options. Keywords: Translation; Culturally Bound Items; Ethnic-Specific Culture; Cultural Linguistics; Literary Translation; Context; Translation Difficulties; Lexical Gap. † M.Akmullah Bashkir State Pedagogical University *Corresponding Author, Email: [email protected], [email protected] ÌK.Zhubanov Aqtobe Regional State University Î S.Baishev Aqtobe University © 2019 Sandugash et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Sandugash et al. Space and Culture, India 2019, 7:1 Page | 251 Introduction the research are discussed in the following It has been about half a century since nations sections. knew of each other’s existence. With science and Theoretical and Methodological Framework technology, the gap between the nations have The language is closely related to the human narrowed. People now have easy access to learn spirit. The first man to capture cultural about the nations better without leaving the peculiarities of the language in the linguistic house. This opened an opportunity for finding theory was Wilhelm Von Humbolt, who lived in common interests, unique goals, and fun words. the second half of the XVIII and the early XIX The art of translation began to develop to ensure centuries. He believed that every language is the mutual understanding between nationalities in result of the linguistic consciousness of people. communication (Al-Rikaby et al., 2018; Hence, the role of language cannot be Geisinger, 1994; Bassnett, 2013). understood without delving into the inner life of The translation is a link between nations, the nation, into the national spirit. between languages, between pieces of literature The term ‘ethnic-specific culture’ is a (Lefevere, 2016). The translation is a transfer of combination of two concepts. The first one is the thoughts (oral, written) from one language to word “ethnos”, which is a historically another (Meylaerts, 2010). The existence of any consolidated community of people, such as nation depends on worldwide communication. tribes, peoples, and nations (cite the reference). In the era of globalisation, translation practices Ethnic stereotypes are rooted in national become even more essential. Thus, translation memory and passed on in the form of folklore, and its evolution path are considered from this epos, and literature (Abildinova, 2015; Bahnova, perspective (Cronin, 2013). 2017). As Khaidar writes: In the context of communication, cultural Thinking of Kazakh people as of an ethnic translation has always been paramount and group is not an act of deride but an warrants special attention as little is known attempt to analyse the long and winding challenges posed while trying to translate the path of its [group’s] development untranslatable (Davier & Van Doorslaer, 2018). retrospectively, to recognise Kazakh When people read about another nation, they people as an ethnicity (Khaidar, 1998: form an opinion regarding it. Thus, a translator 190). has to preserve the cultural peculiarities of another nation in translation (Mukhtarova, The second component of the term is the word 2017). ‘culture’, which came from the Middle French The purpose of this research is to determine ‘colere’ meaning 'to till' as in 'till the ground’'. In ways of localising (expressing the sense of) Kazakh, the word meaning culture is ‘madeniet’. culture-specific items of Kazakh language in It formed from the Arabic word ‘madaniyat’, Russian and English translations. This research which means ‘city’ or refers to something that is aims at familiarising the readers with various ‘urban’. In Europe, the word ‘culture’ is referred views on cultural translation. In doing so, it tries to as the act of ‘giving education’, ‘development’, to examine the functional and semantic studies and ‘respect’. Culture is regarded as the primary tackling untranslatables and provide an adaptive mechanism outpacing human opportunity for a more in-depth study of biological evolution. From this perspective, lexemes that can be found in Kazakh-language cultural change is a process in which culture is works of art. The findings analyse a collection of adapting to itself (Kroeber & Kluckhohn, 1952). culturally bound words found in I. Yesenberlin’s The relationship between language and ethnicity historical trilogy The Nomads. The theoretical draws attention since old time (Kurkebaev, and methodological framework underpinning 2013). Language is tied to culture – the first Sandugash et al. Space and Culture, India 2019, 7:1 Page | 252 develop within the second and defines it. equivalents in other cultures and other Maslova notes that cultural linguistics is based languages. Hence, they are considered specific on this assumption. Cultural linguistics became a to a particular culture and a particular language separate area of linguistics in the 90s of the used in that particular culture (Vereshchagin and twentieth century. Maslova defines this term as Kostomarov, 1980). follows: These culturally bound items are grouped into Cultural linguistics is a branch of categories, the existence of which results in the linguistics that emerged as a combination emergence of lexical gaps or lacunes. Translators of linguistics and cultural studies. It are accustomed to the existence of these ‘holes’ explores the relationship between and perceive them as a regular part of any language and culture in ethnic groups translation practice. (Maslova, 2001: 208). A lexical gap or lacuna is the absence of a name According to B. Karagulova, cultural linguistics is or a concept in a particular language. The aimed at defining what makes the national prerequisites of socio-political and socio- language national. The facts and traces of economic life of a people, its worldview, national culture and values are found in the psychology, and customs are a good ground for literary language and folklore. This rings true for the emergence of new notions (Kopylenko, the Kazakh culture (Karagulova et al., 2016). 1995). According to Mankeeva (2008: 356): The culturally bound items or realia are used in a contemporary linguistics encompasses a direct sense to name an object, an everyday wider range of issues associated with event, a spiritual, historical and social language as a spiritual and cultural phenomenon peculiar to a specific people or a treasure of a people. The reason behind specific country. In translation, culturally bound this phenomenon is simple: each items pose a challenge. language is a semiotic system that In the Glossary of Linguistic Terms compiled by comprises history, culture, knowledge O.S. Akhmanova, linguistic realia has the and needs, temper and conscience, the following definitions: art of craft and customs. Within this . Realia is the object of study in external system, language performs not only a linguistics. It consists of various communicative function but also information regarding institutions, captures culture-specific information and history and culture of a particular people, unites people with it. language bonds between native This observation proves the association between speakers. language and culture (Mankeeva, 2008), which is . Realia are objects of material culture further buttressed by (Atabaeva, 2006: 234): (Akhmanova, 2004). The grasp of truth behind the ethnos can Vlahov and Florin (2006) believe that the be found in [a] material and spiritual translation of realia balances between culture that has been taking its shape for transcribing and making the word fit with the centuries. This truth is commonly context. delivered through facts. Levy sees the translation of realia as a challenge. In translation and interpreting studies, linguistic By contrast, Fedorov (2002:213) is convinced items encompass not only facts but also that “there are no words that cannot be categories of facts, such as geographical terms translated into another language”, assuming and concepts. These items