Translating Cultural Specificity: Pragmatic Equivalence and Nuance in Rendering Regional Vernacular Texts into English
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24113/cdqtw971Keywords:
Translation Studies, Pragmatic Equivalence, Cultural Specificity, Vernacular Literature, Thick Translation, Sociolinguistics, Postcolonial TranslationAbstract
This manuscript explores the complex sociolinguistic and translational challenges encountered when rendering culturally specific regional vernacular literature into English. Focusing on the interplay between source-text pragmatic nuances and target-text readability, this study investigates how translators navigate cultural asymmetry, localized idiomatic expressions, and non-equivalent sociolinguistic markers. Utilizing a framework grounded in pragmatic equivalence and functional translation theories, the analysis evaluates strategies such as thick translation, cultural substitution, and descriptive borrowing. The findings demonstrate that achieving pragmatic equivalence requires a balanced compromise between maintaining local cultural authenticity and ensuring accessibility for a broader global target readership.
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References
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Copyright (c) 2016 Henry Marwick
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