Introduction
It is necessary to note that transculturation is a topic that has been actively discussed over the last few years. It can be described as a process of merging several cultures at once. This concept was introduced by Fernando Ortiz and ethnologist in 1940, and it began to spread at a rapid rate and has gained several meanings (Tlostanova, 2014). Nowadays, it can be applied to several areas, and its meaning is rather broad. It is necessary to mention that it is a rather slow process most of the time. Also, it needs to be said that this approach can be used to adjust several aspects depending on the needs of a particular culture when applied to media translation.
The fact that the role of it has been changing over time should not be overlooked, and it is evident that it has become a vital part of the modern world. Transculturation needs to be applied to media translation because it has an enormous influence on the population and can be regarded as one of the most important aspects of culture.
Body
One of the core aspects that should not be disregarded is that the translation of media requires a tremendous amount of knowledge and resources most of the time. It is imperative to have an understanding of numerous cultural norms and aspects and how they are represented in the media. Also, it is necessary to mention that one of the reasons transculturation needs to be applied to media translation is that this approach has proven to be extremely successful and was met positively by a significant percentage of audiences. It needs to be said that some forms of media require different approaches, and transculturation may not be applicable in some cases. It is also interesting that several tools that have been developed specifically for media translation are present. They may help with the process and can be viewed as incredibly useful most of the time. However, it is imperative to say that each case should be reviewed to make sure that there are no critical mistakes that could lead to numerous issues and severe complications.
The importance of media for culture is another aspect that needs to be discussed. It can be perceived as a powerful tool that has an enormous influence on the population, and the demand for some types of media has been increasing over the years. It is understandable that some of them would not be available without transculturation, and it helps with expansion. The translation should be viewed as one of the most important instruments that support the process, and its quality is highly valued and appreciated by audiences. The role of transculturation should not be overlooked by every single translator because it could affect the way media is perceived by the population. The fact that the populations of different countries are incredibly diverse also should be taken into account, and it is not an easy task to consider the preferences of some individuals.
It is imperative to understand that the perspective on a particular form of media may be different for each culture, and some aspects may be adjusted to ensure that the audience has an understanding of the story. Tymoczko (2014) states that “translations of songs, plays, or opera librettos whose primary purpose is a performance in the receptor language might also be looked upon as privileging transculturation over transmission or representation” (125). In other words, the author suggests that the level of performability may be much more important than the exact meaning of the phrases in some cases. It is paramount to mention that this example supports the argument because it indicates that it can be a reasonable approach and even much more successful than exact translation in some situations.
It needs to be said that the process of translation needs to be regarded as one of the most efficient ways to promote and increase the level of accessibility of a particular form of media. Another critical aspect that needs to be discussed is that some words, actions, and visuals are not acceptable for different countries. Many individuals have to deal with imprisonments and other penalties in some cases (Tlostanova, 2014). Differently put, some aspects are simply not acceptable in some regions, and it may lead to censorship. Transculturation can be used as an efficient way to guarantee that the overall meaning and ideas that the authors wanted to express are not completely lost, but cultural factors are taken into account. It is imperative to ensure that media is culturally appropriate, and it is an essential aspect that should not be overlooked.
Also, most of the themes that are mentioned in all types of media can be applied to most cultures, but minor alterations may be needed in some cases. It is also necessary to note that such limitations may frequently lead to the creation of truly unique pieces that stand on their own or have numerous noticeable differences from the original. The fact that it leads to creativity and innovative approaches also should not be disregarded, and this factor needs to be valued much more. It is necessary to note that this example supports the argument because it indicates that some forms of media would not be allowed without transculturation.
It is paramount to mention that the influence of transculturation is beneficial most of the time, and it is often supported by audiences. For example, some phrases or sentences cannot be correctly translated because they contain humor that is related to the language and references that may not be understood by every individual (Hermans, 2014). In this case, some translations may sound obscure and lack any logic if transculturation is not taken into account. Also, it is important to note that particular objects or environments would not be met positively by some individuals, and translations can be regarded as a powerful tool to address such issues. It is necessary to mention that almost every single form of media has been actively developing over the years, and the need for suitable translations has been increasing. Also, every individual that participates in the process should understand that the overall goal in most cases is to make sure that the media is delivered to the biggest number of people, and it is necessary to ensure that the number of possible issues is limited.
Furthermore, this example is related to the argument because the author suggests that the value of a particular part of the media may be reduced, and it may be met negatively by an audience if a translation does not seem appropriate. The issue is that many individuals are not satisfied with such translations, but they are provided with several alternatives that may help to address this problem. Also, it is important to mention that there were numerous instances when translators made some vital mistakes, and several core aspects have been missed. It is imperative to make sure that translation goes through several phases, and it is checked by trained professionals to ensure that such situations are avoided. Overall, it is paramount to note that transculturation is helpful positive most of the time. It is also necessary to mention that it helps to increase the understanding of different cultures, and may be used to address some problems such as communication barriers and conflicts.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is evident that transculturation is one of the most important factors that should be considered during the process of media translation. It is understandable that many individuals value exact fidelity much more than other aspects. However, it needs to be said that this process increases the accessibility of most forms of media, and transculturation can be viewed as an efficient approach to transfer possible ideas. The fact that it helps to ensure that the form of media is culturally appropriate is vital, and it is the responsibility of every individual that participates in the process of translation to ensure that customers are provided with the content of the highest possible quality. Overall, it is not an easy task to argue with the fact that transculturation has become a critical part of media translation, and numerous examples that support the argument that it needs to be applied most of the time are present.
References
Hermans, T. (2014). Translating others. London, UK: Routledge. Web.
Tlostanova, M. (2014). Transculturation and trickster aesthesia/aesthetics. In F. Italiano & M. Rossner (Eds.), Translation: Narration, media and the staging of differences (pp. 165-186). Bielefeld, DE: Transcript Verlag. Web.
Tymoczko, M. (2014). Enlarging translation, empowering translators. London, UK: Routledge. Web.