Editorial: A New Turn in Translation Studies?

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Translation and translators are emerging as powerful catalysts for promoting vibrant cross-cultural interaction among individuals from different backgrounds. Commonly perceived as the process of converting content from one language to another, translation is a nuanced and multifaceted endeavor that transcends mere linguistic conversion. Translators act as adept mediators, deftly navigating the intricate web of diverse texts and cultures while shaping their uniquely insightful perspectives. This article explores the rich historical dimensions of translation, highlighting its deep connections to philosophical beliefs and socio-political dynamics. It also aims to enhance our understanding of the complex nature of this practice by dissecting various dichotomies in translation studies, including contrasting philosophical views of translation and divergent approaches to the art of translation. In today’s interconnected world, the role of the translator has become increasingly indispensable, underscoring that translation goes beyond mere words; it serves as a mirror that reflects the ever-evolving globalized landscape. To chart a path forward, we must recognize the importance of revisiting the past, drawing wisdom from history, and gaining valuable insights for the future.
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Translation in Flux: Revisiting the Past, Envisioning the Future

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This article discusses the economic terminology of English and Romanian from the perspective of Conceptual Metaphor Theory, focusing on the way in which the two languages employ lexical items from the semantic field of liquids in relation to the economy. The approach used here is both quantitative and qualitative. Thus, the study analyses the dictionary distribution in the two languages of words and phrases that fit the LIQUID metaphor of the economy, and tries to formulate statistical conclusions regarding the importance of this metaphor in shaping the vocabulary of the subject. The results of the quantitative analysis are illustrated with examples from economic publications, with an emphasis on those cases where English and Romanian do not share the same conceptual metaphors, and which could thus prove problematic for learners of Business English as well as for professionals working with the two languages. Metaphor researchers studying English and Romanian generally agree that English is more metaphorical in the way it discusses economic phenomena. However, dictionaries and newspaper articles may differ in the extent to which they follow this prediction, with the latter showing a higher density of metaphorical language than the former.
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A Comparative Study of LIQUID Metaphors in English and Romanian Economic Language

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“If you translate long into the machine, the machine translates back into you,” is one of the issues the present article strives to establish and explore qualitatively. I intend to examine the effectiveness and efficiency of machine-assisted translations of significant literary works from a hermeneutical perspective. Essentially, I analyse the output of automated translation platforms such as Google Translate and compare them to human translation. This investigation is valuable in determining whether translators should exercise caution when utilizing translation platforms for culturally rich literary works. Additionally, the article scrutinizes the localisation, cultural, and grammatical coherence of Homer’s <italic>The Iliad </italic>translated from English to Romanian using the Google Translate platform. The human translations used are rendered into English and Romanian from Greek. As Homer’s Greek remains incomprehensible to the translation platform, we employ a secondary translation technique for a tertiary machine-assisted output. Nonetheless, this approach highlights the serious pitfalls of using translation platforms haphazardly in translation work. This analysis will show how awareness of the machine’s imperfect translation capabilities may, in turn, enhance the human translator’s awareness of what works while translating with the help of a translation application.
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On the Efficiency and Efficacy of Machine-Assisted Literary Translation: A Case Study for English/Romanian and Romanian/English Machine-Assisted Translation

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This article undertakes a comparative analysis of the English and Chinese voice-lines of specific characters in <italic>Genshin Impact – </italic>a well-known open world role-playing video game developed by Mihoyo Technology <italic>– </italic>and examines the cultural implications that might have led to varied translations. By closely scrutinizing linguistic adaptations and cultural nuances, the study aims to shed light on how these differences in translation significantly influence the perception of characters among their respective audiences globally. The research delves into the complex choices made by translators and their impact on character representation, addressing the discourse on the interplay between language and culture, and how these intersect with in-game narratives. In doing so, the article not only offers valuable insights into the intricacies of cross-cultural adaptation in regards to video game localization, but also contributes to a broad understanding of how linguistic choices actively shapes the audience’s perception when navigating the immersive world of <italic>Genshin Impact</italic>.
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Translating Identities: How Cultural Choices Shape Character Perception in <italic>Genshin Impact</italic>

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The present article sets out to investigate the rendering of cultural elements in the process of poetry translation, an undertaking that is a strenuous one, given the constraints of form. It looks into and illustrates the many layers of Seamus Heaney’s poetry, pointing at the profusion of allusions to cultural aspects that are embedded in the texts, and that ask the translator to decide whether to “foreignize” or “domesticate” the text. These extratextual features that a translator needs to consider are imbricated with the various textual elements, generating effects that are difficult to replicate in translation, making similarity of effect all the more difficult to achieve.
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Cultural Transfer in Translation. Seamus Heaney’s Poetry: A Case Study

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The present article aims at presenting features specific to translating dramatic texts, the peculiarities of the genre and how these can be tackled in the process of translating. The case study comprises an analysis of the translation and adaptation for radio broadcasting of Samuel Beckett’s <italic>Krapp’s Last Tape</italic>. Theoreticians have constantly pointed out that drama translators should always focus on the performability, speakability, gestural and aural dimensions of the text, given that the final product has to be playable in front of an audience. The ultimate goal is to obtain a text that sounds natural and is easily understood, where the aural and gestural dimensions fit and work together. In order to make the translated text performable in another medium, certain changes are necessary. In the present case study – adapting a play for radio broadcasting –, everything visual becomes aural, and in this process stage directions are the most challenging to be handled. Adding, omitting or rephrasing are options that the translator has to constantly consider.
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Specific Problems Posed by Drama Translation: Translating and Adapting Samuel Beckett’s <italic>Krapp’s Last Tape </italic>for the Radio. A Case Study

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Broadcast from the early 1960s until the early 1970s, <italic>Bewitched </italic>was brought into being with the intention of providing the conventional American family with a constructive emotional outlet for when they would all gather around the TV and spend quality time together. The key demographic at that time consisted of young to middle-aged couples or newlyweds with or without children, basically the real-life versions of the characters portrayed in the show. Nowadays, the target audience has considerably diminished in number as the beloved TV series is no longer on TV. It remains available online for cinephiles and movie amateurs alike. The aim of this article is to methodically translate and analyse the potential setbacks of various comic and outdated instances encountered in the TV show <italic>Bewitched</italic>. It also consists of a thorough investigation of possible problematic linguistic aspects, as well as different sources of humour. Moreover, the target audience will be provided with alternatives in translation and additional explanations and reasonings behind the choices made.
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Translation of Problematic Humour in Gender-Focused <italic>Bewitched</italic>

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This article explores the teaching methods used in university classes of Translation and Interpreting with visually impaired students. It is the first essay on this topic applied to the context of Romania. Therefore, it offers basic suggestions of implementing international teaching methods for visually impaired students in Translation and Interpreting in Romanian universities, while also raising awareness about the challenges they face. The literature review is divided into two categories: digital skills and professional skills. In presenting the most essential digital skills a visually impaired translator and interpreter must acquire, the article makes reference to Kornacki’s model which groups technologies according to the necessary skills. The professional skills are discussed in three articles from two different universities, namely the University of Trieste in Italy and the University of Mainz/Germersheim in Germany. The German study described in two articles – one in German and its shorter version in English – gives a detailed perspective on the topic, being the core of the theoretical ideas mentioned in this article. The knowledge acquired by reading this article will most certainly lead Romanian professors to using the optimal approach when teaching emerging visually impaired translators and interpreters. The teaching methods can be put into practice if the right equipment is available and accessibility is implemented in all aspects regarding translation and interpreting.
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Teaching Visually Impaired Translators and Interpreters in Romania: Available Tools and Inclusive Teaching Methods

Massimiliano Morini. <italic>Theatre Translation: Theory and Practice</italic>. Bloomsbury Academic, 2022. Pp. 166. ISBN: 978-1-3501-9562-2 (hardcover).

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East-West Cultural Passage

 Publishing House and Owner: Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania  East-West Cultural Passage appears biannually and publishes work by scholars interested in the cross-cultural dialogue in areas such as literature, history, film, popular culture, institutions, politics and related subjects. The journal is devoted to the study of cross-cultural understanding with a clear humanistic emphasis. Articles with an interdisciplinary character are particularly welcome. The journal also publishes notes and comments, review essays and book reviews.  The East-West Cultural Psassage Journal focuses on theoretical and empirical research in the humanities disciplines. The journal welcomes the submission of articles from the following fields:   Anthropology  Cultural studies  Education  Language  Linguistics  Literature  Novels and short stories  Poetry  Teaching   Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 

East-West Cultural Passage

Volume 23 (2023): Issue 2 (December 2023)

Editorial: A New Turn in Translation Studies?

Translation in Flux: Revisiting the Past, Envisioning the Future

A Comparative Study of LIQUID Metaphors in English and Romanian Economic Language

On the Efficiency and Efficacy of Machine-Assisted Literary Translation: A Case Study for English/Romanian and Romanian/English Machine-Assisted Translation

Translating Identities: How Cultural Choices Shape Character Perception in Genshin Impact

Cultural Transfer in Translation. Seamus Heaney’s Poetry: A Case Study

Specific Problems Posed by Drama Translation: Translating and Adapting Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape for the Radio. A Case Study

Translation of Problematic Humour in Gender-Focused Bewitched

Teaching Visually Impaired Translators and Interpreters in Romania: Available Tools and Inclusive Teaching Methods

Massimiliano Morini. Theatre Translation: Theory and Practice. Bloomsbury Academic, 2022. Pp. 166. ISBN: 978-1-3501-9562-2 (hardcover).

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