The article by Myriam Salama-Carr dwells on the interpretive theory of translation. It was introduced in the 1960s by the University of Paris III to explore the practice of simultaneous interpreting (Salama-Carr, 2009). The core tenet of the theory is that the interpreting process involves the appropriation of meaning and its reformulation in the target language. Proponents of the theory believe that interpreters first converse meanings and then express them verbally.
I agree with the stated-above assumption because interpreting is an art of communication that requires deciphering ideas while taking into account many factors. Linguistic differences between languages derive from variations in culture, moral values, and history. An interpreter has to assist interlocutors during their interaction, even if they do not have prior knowledge of the topic. Therefore, an interpreter must use strategies that eliminate or minimize misunderstanding.
First of all, the emergence of sense occurs when the interpreter possesses significant background knowledge. Cultural universals, such as symbols, rituals, or ceremonies, help individuals improve communication (Bharati, 2018). Hence, using examples that relate to cultural universals will ease the process of interpreting. Secondly, the language of bureaucracy and legal institutions poses a challenge for intercultural communication and emphasizes the role of the interpreter. The purpose of the legal language is not to explain but to affect or modify people’s behavior by granting permissions or imposing obligation. However, not all people have the same level of institutional literacy to understand specific definitions or terminology (Li Wei & Jankowicz-Pytel, 2019). Consequently, during court hearings, interpreters convey meanings to those who lack the necessary knowledge. That is why the interpretive theory highlights the need to connect cognitive inputs with verbal expression to avoid ambiguity.
Languages are full of culturally defined terms and expressions that might not be easy to translate. These linguistic elements, including religious beliefs, moral values, and political ideology, should be related to the context they are coming from (Chahrour, 2018). The interpretive theory of translation underlines that direct conversion of the linguistic meaning will result in the absence of logic and sense. Interpreting is a dynamic process of de-coding and re-expressing ideas in various cultural or social contexts.
References
Bharati, B. (2018). Understanding the relationship between translation and culture. Medium.
Chahrour, O. (2018). Cultural problems in translation. Translation Journal.
Li Wei, Z.H., & Jankowicz-Pytel, D. (2019). Intercultural moments in translating and humanising the socio-legal system. Language and Intercultural Communication, 19(6), 488-504.
Salama-Carr, M. (2009). Interpretive approach. In M. Baker & G. Saldanha (Eds.), Routledge encyclopedia of translation studies (pp. 145-147). Routledge.