Cultural Translations

12Introduction‘Cultural Translation’ is a term which has been frequently used recently. In a broad sense, thisterm is considered to refer to the common practices in most societies from the beginning of humanhistory and cultural formation.In this paper, I will first look at several representative definitions of the words ‘culture’, ‘language’,‘translation’ and ‘cultural translation’ which are to be used often here. Second, I will focuson a renowned New Zealand novella The Whale Rider (1987) whose content displays typicalexamples of ‘cultural translation.’ Third, I will move to its Japanese (2003) and Chinese (2006)translations to see how ‘culture translation’ takes place between different languages and cultures.Fourth, I will analyze how images can or cannot be translated. Finally I will discuss whythe term ‘cultural translation’ is useful in analyzing literary translations involving different languages,as well as in observation of social contacts between different cultures in today’s world.Culture, Language, TranslationThe most classical definition of ‘culture’ was made by Edward B. Tylor in 1865. ‘Culture or civilization,taken in its wide ethnographic sense, is that complex whole which includes knowledge,belief, art, morals, law, customs and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a memberof society’ (Tylor, 1865, 1871) 1 . Since then the term ‘complex whole’ has been often used todescribe ‘culture’.Tracing the development of the concept of ‘culture’, Raymond Williams, pointed out in 1958that ‘culture’ originally meant ‘tending of natural growth’, and then a ‘process of human training.’It was always ‘a culture of something’. But in the 18 th century and the early 19 th century, it became‘a thing in itself.’ He continued to say,It came to mean, first, ‘a general state of habit of the mind’, having close relations with theidea of human perfection. Second, it came to mean ‘the general state of intellectual development,in a society as a whole’. Third, it came to mean ‘the general body of the arts’. Fourth, later in thecentury, it came to mean ‘a whole way of life, material, intellectual and spiritual” (Williams,1958) 2Analyzing the functions of ‘culture’, Malinowski pointed out in 1944 that ‘culture’ is ‘the integralwhole consisting of implements and consumers’ goods, of constitutional charters for thevarious social groupings, of human ideas and crafts, beliefs and customs.’ 3 Meanwhile, he paid attentionto the fact that culture is constantly under pressure for change. ‘A cultural standard of living…meansthat new needs appear and new imperatives or determinants are imposed on humanbehaviour. Clearly, cultural tradition has to be transmitted from each generation to the next.’ 41 Tylor, Edward, (1865) 1870, Primitive Culture: Researches into the Development of Mythology, Philosophy,Religion, Language, Art, and Custom. Vol. 1, 1870 edition, London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, p.1.2 Williams, Raymond, (1958) 1983, Culture and Society, 1780-1950. New York: Columbia University Press,reissued 1971, p.163 Malinowski, Bronislaw, (1944) 1979, A Scientific Theory of Culture and Other Essays, Chapel Hill: theUniversity of North Caroline Press, 9 th printing, 1979, p.36.4 Malinowski, Bronislaw, (1944) 1979, A Scientific Theory of Culture and Other Essays, Chapel Hill: theUniversity of North Caroline Press, 9 th printing, 1979, p.37.Nanyan Guo