THE ROLE OF TRANSLATOR IN A DIVIDED WORLD  

Oleh:

Suryaman, Oni

Jenis: Article from Proceeding
Dalam koleksi: TransCon 2011: Cultures Merging: Tackling the Linguistic (Un)translatability, Jakarta: Unika Atma Jaya, June 15, 2011, page 167-173.
Topik: translation; transability; dilemma in translation; linguistic hospitality
Fulltext: (167-173) Oni Suryaman.pdf (134.08KB)

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Paul Ricoeur has noted in his famous Paradigm of Translation paper that translator has a unique role in creating understanding. Following the role described in George Steiner, After Babel, to translate is to understand, a translator not only translates from one language to another, but also serves as a bridge of understanding between one language and another, one culture and another. A translator usually only has a professionalism standard in his head without realizing the importance of his role as a bridge of understanding. This role is especially important in this divided world. The division is not only language division, but also cultural, religion, even division between different scientific community. This mixed up world has created a new Babel Tower, that many of us do not understand each other. Globalization has created an opportunity of vast connection between cultures, but it also increased the possibility of tensions between them, because they do not understand each other. To be a translator is to be torn apart by these tensions. However, a stubborn fact persists, not all expressions in one language are translatable to another language. The untransability force the translator to take side with one language, therefore betray the other. In order to overcome the untransability, a translator has to live in both languages. At first, the translator must serve both masters, but in the end he must break free from both of them. By breaking free from the chain of both languages, the translator transcends the limitation of both languages. The translator might need to build a new bridge between to unconnected territories. Therefore, a translator does not merely translate, but serves as a missionary of understanding in this divided world.

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