The Challenges of Language, Culture, and Translation in a Global Society

Abstract

Language and culture are like the two sides of the same coin. A language is part and parcel of any community, society, or ethnic group that embodies the culture and traditions of that community. Language, as a part of the cultural core, is at the heart of culture. It is the dominant tactic through which the members relate and interact. The translation occupies a significant role in reaching out to different languages and cultures as an acceptable medium through which to reach out to other cultures beyond the set limits. We know that translation plays a significant role in a voyage through different cultures and communication. Therefore, it is an effective and important means of sharing and reaching out from one culture to another, even amid many obstacles and constraints. The process of translating the cultural elements of one culture to another culture is a herculean task in spite of every effort from the translator, as each culture has its own unique meanings and symbols associated with the language they originated from. Translation serves as a bridge between languages and connects all units of the world in the global network. Further, the diversity of culture and language is so immense that it is challenging to do justice while engaging in translation. It entails that a keen devotion should be accorded to various aspects that exist in each culture and language while initiating and progressing in the translation without attenuating and garbling the original meaning. This paper attempts to study the challenges encountered in language, culture, and translation in a globalized society.