Introduction
Bassnett points out the misunderstanding about translation as follows;
Translation has been perceived as a secondary activity, as a ‘mechanical’ rather than a ‘creative’ process, within the competence of anyone with a basic grounding in a language other than their own; in short, as a low status occupation (Bassnett1980:2).
Acutally, translation is not merely an activity of putting a text from one language into another. Micheal Agar points out that language is one surface of a deep and complex system of concepts we call culture (Lull1893:139). Also, according to what is called the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis our thinking is determined by language (linguistic determinism) and people who speak different languages perceive and think about the world differently (linguistic relativity). Because language itself is regarded as a part of culture, as indicated above, translation process consists of various elements.
The operation of translation becomes doubly complicated since two languages and thus two cultures and two societies are involved. Therefore, Venuti states;
A political economy of translation is consequently bound to be set within the general framework of the political trends of international trade. Thus it is no surprise that the global translation flux is predominantly North-North, while South-South translation is almost nonexistent and North-South translation is unequal: cultural hegemony confirms, to a great extent, economic hegemony.
Translation Studies and Postcolonialism
Introduction
Bassnett points out the misunderstanding about translation as follows;
Translation has been perceived as a secondary activity, as a 'mechanical' rather than a 'creative' process, within the competence of anyone with a basic grounding in a language other than their own; in short, as a low status occupation (Bassnett1980:2).
Acutally, translation is not merely an activity of putting a text from one language into another. Micheal Agar points out ...