Transference vs. Translation: Bridging Cultural and Linguistic Gaps and the Challenge of Finding Equivalents

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to argue for a terminological equivalence using any appropriate translation strategy or procedure instead of the usually followed process or technique of transference when translating technical and cultural terms from English into Arabic. Actually, transference maintains much of the flavor of the original text as it involves transliteration/transcription of the SLT. It also indicates borrowing the original word from the SL and implants it in the soil of the TL. Consequently, it is introduced to the TL readers as a new text that can be added to their linguistic and cultural systems. It is a SL-oriented procedure as it respects the linguistic and stylistic choice of the SL culture. However, since the task of the translator is to interpret the meaning of the SLT and then find the appropriate equivalent in the TL, transference cannot be considered a logical translation procedure; rather it is an indication of translation failure as it imposes SL items on the TL.