• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access for just £4.99 per month

Explain what is meant by the terms 'domestication' and 'foreignisation' in translation theory.

Page
  1. 1
    1
  2. 2
    2
  3. 3
    3
  4. 4
    4
  5. 5
    5
  6. 6
    6
  • Essay length: 2272 words
  • Submitted: 18/07/2008
Share this essay:
University Degree Other Languages

The first 200 words of this essay...

(a) Explain what is meant by the terms 'foreignisation' and 'domestication' in translation theory.

The notions of foreignisation and domestication in translation theory were first proposed by Friederich Schleiermacher, a German theologian and philosopher who also dabbled in a range of other subjects, including linguistics. His terms for these concepts, alienation and naturalisation, were later taken up in the twentieth century by Lawrence Venuti, who renamed them foreignisation and domestication. These approaches to translation were based on the idea that in translating a text, the culture of the original text has to be accounted for in the translation, either by 'adapting' it to the culture of the target language, and thus bringing the text to the reader (domestication), or by making the target language adapt to the culture of the source text, and thus taking the reader to the text (foreignisation).

Both approaches have attracted negativity: domestication is often seen as a betrayal of the culture expressed by the original text, while foreignisation is seen as inherently elitist and not always something that necessarily adds to the diversity of the situation (Robinson 1997, 109-112), although Robinson points out earlier in his criticism that foreignisation can be seen very

Read more
The above preview is unformatted text

Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • Over 150,000 essays available
  • Just £4.99 a month

  • "
    Markedbyteachers.com provide an excellent, fast and extremely useful website.
    "
    Jacqueline. Modern Studies and English. GCSE Student
  • "
    Markedbyteachers.com has really helped with my revision and is a valued resource for help with coursework. It has inspired me to write essays as good as the essays on the site. Definitely worth the investment.
    "
    Chris Mckellar. Media Studies, IT, English. A Level Student.

Marked by a teacher

This essay has been marked by one of our great teachers. You can read the full teachers notes when you download the essay.

Peer reviewed

This essay has been reviewed by one of our specialist student essay reviewing squad. Read the full review on the essay page.

Peer reviewed

This essay has been reviewed by one of our specialist student essay reviewing squad. Read the full review under the essay preview on this page.