Translation and Culture

DEFINITIONS I define culture as the way of life and its manifestations that are peculiar to a community
that uses a particular language as its means of expression. More specifically, I distinguish 'cultural' from
'universal1 and 'personal1 language. 'Die1 , 'live1 , 'star', 'swim' and even almost virtually ubiquitous
artefacts like 'mirror1 and "table1 are universals - usually there is no translation problem there.
'Monsoon1 , 'steppe1 , 'dacha', 'tagliatelle1 are cultural words - there will be a translation problem
unless there is cultural overlap between the source and the target language (and its readership).

CULTURAL CATEGORIES

A Culture Way of life and its manifestations peculiar to one speech community.

(1) Ecology Animals, plants, local winds, mountains, plains, ice, etc. (2) Material culture (artefacts) Food,
clothes, housing, transport and communications (3) Social culture - work and leisure (4) Organisations,
customs, ideas -Political, social, legal, religious, artistic (5) Gestures and habits (often described in 'non-
cultural* language.

1 4.3Translation Procedures

4.3.1 Transference> In transference, words from the source language are carried to the target
text and written in a transliterated form. In doing so, the target language alphabets are used. In
the current study, many examples were found where transference has been made. In the ‫کښې باره‬
‫ )په امن د‬Da Aman pa Bara ke – About Peace) by Dr. Sabir Khan Shinwari one such example is
referred to here. This poem is about peace in which a request has been made to peace to come
again. In this way, talking about the consequences of the absence of peace, it is said:

Example ‫ حورې له جنت راپیرزو شوې دې‬:ST ‫ مړ شوم نامراده لږ راوالوځه‬Hoori da jannat raperzo shavi di
Marr shom namurada lag rawalwaza

TT: I am waiting for hoors Blow, yet my desire is not fulfilled Using transference,

4.3.2 Cultural Equivalent

In a cultural equivalent, an approximate or near translation is produced. This is an approximate

cultural equivalent that may take the form of functional equivalent. Instead of cultural neutral,
such translation has pragmatic impacts on the readers. One such example can be found in ‫الر امن د‬
(Da Aman Laar – The Path to Peace) by Fazaldad Fazal. In this poem, the poet describes the
effects of war. He thinks that those who wage war are not only destroying the people whom war
is waged on but the war wagers’ lives are also ruined. It is shared that because of war, the lives
of Pashtuns have been destroyed and as a result, they have lost their homes. Keeping in view the
honor of Pashtuns, it is said:

Example ST: ‫ پښتانه دومره هم بې پته نه وو چې هرسړے دې ترې ګوزار وباسي‬Pukhtana dumra hum bepata
na wo Chi har sarray di tri guzar obasi

TT: Pakhtoon not so outcaste To be beaten and fought The word ‫ )پت‬pat - honor) is one of the
Pashtuns’ codes that make one Pashtun.

4.3.3 Functional Equivalent

In functional equivalent, usually, the culturally loaded term is exchanged with a neutral term. In
this way, the language is deculturalized. In the present case, different examples were found.
There is a poem ‫ )دے؟ جنګ چا د دا‬Da da Cha Jang day – Whose War is this?) by Alimnoor
Mubalegh. In this poem, the poet questions whose war is this? Who benefits from it? The poet
narrates that different claims have been brought forth in favor of this war on the land of
Pakhtoons. He complains that the once glamorous land has no glamour at all. Its springs and
gardens have been destroyed where no visits are made now. Here, the blood of the beloveds have
been shed and life has become too much difficult. The poet complains that wherefrom this storm
of war has come from and who is responsible for it. In one of the stanzas, it is said:

Example ST: ‫ پریوتل پټکي مې د سپین ږیورو دسرونونه پیغلې مې سرتورې رابهر شوې د کورونونه‬Prewatal
patki me da spingero da sarono na Peghli me sartore rabahar shwe da koronona na TT: Turbans
from the heads of elders A shawl from the lasses fell down

4.3.4 Descriptive Equivalent In descriptive equivalence, the meaning of a source language

word is translated into the target text by giving a description, sometimes accompanied by its
function. In the following stanza, such an example of descriptive equivalence is elaborated. The
stanza has been taken from ‫ )امن راولئ‬Aman Rawalai – Bring Peace) by Shakir Bahar. The poem
is a welcome to peace. It is said that because of war, we have lost our houses and the beauty of
our land. There is no more peace. Talking about the customs before the start of the war in the
region, and as a request to peace, it is said:

Example ST: ‫ بیا د هرې بیرې په خاښونوکښې واچوئ ټالونه امن راولئ‬Bya da hare bere pa khaxono ki
Wachawai talona aman rawali

TT: On the branches of thorny jujube fruit trees Tie swings, restore peace

4.3.5 Synonymy

It is the translation procedure in which translation from a source language word is made into the
near equivalent of the target language word. It is also that the translation of the same word is not
that much of importance. In this case, the problem of accuracy prevails as often the exact target 5
equivalent is not present. In the following stanza that has been taken from ‫ )جنګ او امن‬Aman ao
Jang – Peace and War) by Sherzam Seemab, synonymy is used as a translation procedure. The
poem is about the difference between peace and war. It is narrated that peace is the beauty of life,
love, the song of spring, the light of democracy, friendship youth with a lovely lady, the cool
breeze of morning, and its songs are loved by people. On the other hand, war is a bloody ghost
that sucks the blood of people. It is a murderer that kills the light and like a terror, spread the
darkness of hate. War is a dictatorship that snatches the rights of others. It is a journey on
wounded feet that give nothing but hardship. According to the poet, peace is the love of Moses
but war is the stubbornness of Pharaoh. Highlighting one of such differences,

it is said: Example ‫ امن د ژوند د ښائستونودښکالنامه ده‬:ST ‫ جنګ یو خونکاره داړوره زوروره بال‬Aman da
jwand da xayestono da xkula nama da Jang yeo khunkara darrawara zorawara bala TT: Peace is
the sweet of the beauties of life War is a bloody, sharp teethed, ferocious beast.

4.3.6 Through-Translation

In this type of translation procedure, the literal translation of common collocations, components
of compounds, and names of organizations are translated. In this way, sometimes lexical gaps are
filled. In the following lines, Sherzada Sajid in his poem ‫ )امن‬Aman – peace) says: Example 1
‫ دزړه په وینوچې دردونه دملت ولیکم‬:ST ‫ ماله ټوپک په الس کښې مه راکوه‬Da zrra pa weeno che dardona da
millat olikam Mala topak pa laas ke ma rakawa TT: To write pains of the nation with the blood
of my heart Don’t give a gun in my hand.

4.3.7 Shift or Transposition Shift or transposition

 is the procedure where different types of changes occur in the grammar of the target texts. It has
four types that involve the change in the form of words, i.e., the singular 8 form is changed to
plural or vice versa. Sometimes the order of the adjectives also changes. The shift also involves
the change in adjectives where neutral ones are often introduced. In some cases, the literal
translation is avoided because it does not come following the target language system. There are
occasions when the lexical gaps are filled with the help of a grammatical structure. Such
examples, where the above-mentioned conditions occur, can be found in the selected data. In the
‫ )غږ امن د‬Da Aman Ghag – A Call for Peace), the poet Hayat Iqbal Hayat says:

Example ‫ په جنګ کښې څه دي جنګ کښې څه ګټه ده‬:ST ‫ دغه پوښتنه له هر چا غواړو‬Pa jang ki sa di jang ki sa
gata da Dagha puxtana la har cha ghwarro TT: What is in war, what its profits are? We enquire
from all.

4.3.8 Modulation

occurs when a change in the point of view takes place in the target text translation. Like shift or
transposition, it can be categorized into different types details of which can be found in the
Methodology chapter. In the ‫ )سندره امن د‬Da Aman Sandara – A Song of Peace) by Suleiman
Kamil, we can find modulation. This poem discusses the past and present of Pashtuns and it says
that Pashtuns were the people famous for love who followed their culture and tradition of
harmony. They believed 9 in merit and justice. It was the land of beauty with lovely streams and
glorious history. Suddenly, the atrocities came and the area was engulfed by flames and bombs.
Every brutal came to misguide the residents and puts them at war with their own people. The
poet complains to God:

Example 1 ‫ په خپل وطن کښی در په در شوچرته چرته الړو‬:ST ‫ په وینو سترګوژاړو‬Pa khpal watan kie dar pa
dar sho charta charta larro Pa weno stargo jarro TT: Wandering, we are homeless in our
homeland Crying with tears of blood

4.3.9 Compensation

In this procedure, meaning in terms of loss is compensated or adjusted in another sentence or

another part of a sentence. In this way, the meaning is made clear as compensation in metaphor,
pragmatic effects, or sound effect. One such example of meaning compensation is as follow:

Example ‫ خدائے دې بیا راوله یو ځلې مونږدې الرته‬:ST ‫ ګورو مونږه حاالتو یو ځپلي مونږدې الر ته ګورو‬Khuday
de bya rawala yeo zali mong de lar ta goro Monga halato yeo zapali mong di lar ta goro TT: May
you come back to soothe we the tired We are looking to your way.

4.3.10 Componential Analysis: 16 In this procedure, words from the source text are translated
into the target text by taking into account the difference as well as the common features. In such
situations, no one-to-one correspondence can be observed and that is why, the target language
meaning is approximated with the source language meaning by considering shape, size, function,
currency, and other pragmatic effects. In the ‫ )الر امن د‬Da Aman Laar – The Path to Peace) by
Fazaldad Fazal, one of the verses says:

Example ST: ‫ لورخور به څنګه په پرده کښې کړمه کډه په سر مې په بازار وباسي‬Lur khor ba sanga pa parda
ki krrma Kada pa sar mi pa bazaar obasi TT: How shall I shelter my daughter and sister? They
expel me, priced, surrounded by onlookers.

4.3.11 Reduction and Expansion

The reduction is a procedure where a drop off in the target text words occurs. This usually takes
place when a limited number of words can help convey the meaning. For example, in his poem
‫ )امن‬Aman - peace), Muqaddar Shah Muqaddar says:

Example ‫ قدرقدرقدرد هغو قامونوکیږي‬:ST ‫ لمسه د اغیار چې نه مني او نه غولیږي‬Qadar qadar qadar da
hagho qamono kegi Lamsa da aghyaar chi na mania o na ghwalegi TT: Those nations are
respected Who neither follow the advice of the enemies nor deceived .

4.3.12 Couplet

The ‫ )دعا امن د‬Da Aman Dua – A Pray for Peace) by Professor Safdar is a poem where the poet
gives a description of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that used to be a place of peace and serenity. It is
prayed to God that the old days of happiness and peace may come back to this burnt valley. The
unity and strength of its inhabitant and the disappearance of terror are longed for. While
describing the culture, rich with songs and dances, the poet says:

Example ‫ بیا راکې جذبې د اتڼ راوله‬:ST ‫ خدایه په دې خاوره امن راوله‬Bya raki jazbe da atan rawala
Khudaya pa di khawra aman rawala TT: Reawaken our spirit to Atan 19 Oh, Allah! Bring peace
to this land .

4.3.12 Notes, Additions and Glosses: In this strategy, the translated word is often glossed,
some additions or notes are added to the words to make the concepts or items clear to the target
readers. Apart from many other poems, this strategy has been used in the ‫)راځي سندروبه په امن‬
Aman pa Sandaro ba Razi – Peace will Come through Songs) by Muhammad Raziq Wisal. It is a
poem about the importance of art and music in the restoration of peace. It is said that in
Pashtuns’ culture, songs and music has got an important place. Songs can help in the revival of
hujras and fairs. It has the power to mold minds in the direction of peace. It is mentioned that
Pashtuns are clear by heart and they hate all sorts of hates and welcome peace in any form.
Discussing the different aspects of Pashtuns’ culture concerning restating of peace, the poet says:

Example ‫ سیورے دچنار په دې ګودروبه راځي‬:ST ‫ امن که راځي نو په سندرو به راځي‬Soray da chinar pa di
godaro ba razi Aman ka razi nu pa sandaro ba razi TT: Planetree will cover the godar with
shades long If peace will come, it will come through songs