Translanguaging in Translation: Invisible Contributions that Shape Our Language and Society

This book explores the intersection of applied linguistics and translation studies by analyzing literary texts in Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean and their translations. It highlights the strategic use of linguistic elements in translation, emphasizing the long-term contributions of translanguaging to language development and society. The analysis also sheds light on the challenges of monolingualism in translation and teaching.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Multilingual Matters

This book is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection of applied linguistics and translation studies, offering a comprehensive analysis of literary texts in Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, and Korean, as well as their translations. Through meticulous examination of the linguistic elements employed in these translations, the author delves into the intricate realm of translanguaging, highlighting the strategic use of scripts, morphemes, words, names,onomatopoeias, metaphors, puns, and other contextualized linguistic elements. What emerges is a profound recognition of the long-term, often invisible contributions of translators to the development of languages and society. The analysis sheds valuable light on the challenges posed by monolingualizing forces in translation, teaching, and communicative contexts in modern societies, while also adding a fresh dimension to the rapidly evolving field of translanguaging studies.

The book begins by providing a theoretical framework for understanding translanguaging, which is defined as the dynamic interplay between languages and cultures in multilingual contexts. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing the multilingual nature of contemporary societies and the role that translation plays in facilitating communication and cultural exchange.

In the subsequent chapters, the author examines a selection of literary texts from different languages and cultures, highlighting the ways in which translanguaging is manifested in the translated versions. They analyze the strategic use of scripts, morphemes, words, names,onomatopoeias, metaphors, puns, and other contextualized linguistic elements to convey meaning and evoke emotions in the target language. The author also explores the challenges faced by translators in capturing the nuances and complexities of the source language, as well as the impact of translanguaging on the development of languages and society.

One of the key findings of the book is that translanguaging contributes to the preservation and revitalization of languages. By employing a variety of linguistic resources, translators can create new expressions and meanings that are relevant to contemporary audiences, thus helping to keep languages alive and vibrant. Moreover, translanguaging promotes cultural diversity and understanding, as it allows individuals from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds to communicate and share their experiences.

Another important aspect of the book is its analysis of the problems caused by monolingualizing forces in translation, teaching, and communicative contexts. The author argues that the dominance of one language over others can lead to the marginalization and exclusion of minority languages and cultures. Translanguaging, on the other hand, offers a way to bridge these linguistic and cultural gaps, promoting inclusivity and diversity in communication.

The book also provides valuable insights into the teaching of languages and translation. The author suggests that teachers should embrace translanguaging as a teaching strategy, allowing students to engage with multiple languages and cultures through translation. This approach promotes language learning and literacy, as well as cultural awareness and understanding.

In conclusion, this book is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection of applied linguistics and translation studies. Through its comprehensive analysis of literary texts in different languages and cultures, it sheds light on the long-term, often invisible contributions of translanguaging to the development of languages and society. The analysis also highlights the challenges posed by monolingualizing forces in translation, teaching, and communicative contexts, and provides valuable insights into the teaching of languages and translation. This book is a must-read for scholars, researchers, and practitioners in the fields of applied linguistics, translation studies, and cultural studies.

Weight: 406g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781800414921