Influence of translation on receptor culture

What is the influence of a translated text on the receptor culture? According to Even-Zohar, this also varies depending on whether its position is central or peripheral in the receptor culture. If it occupies a central position, then the translation will be hailed as an original text. Moreover, the definition of ‘translation' itself expands to accommodate what are strictly not translations, like adaptations, imitations or versions. Since the purpose of the translation is to introduce something new to the receptor culture, the translation will retain the qualities of the original. This might result in alienating readers who are not comfortable with a radically new form or idea, but the fact remains that the translation will have altered the receptor culture's perceptions of a literary work.

If the translation is in a secondary position, the picture changes. Here the attempt will be to fit into an already existing pattern, rather than set a trend. This is because the receptor culture is strong enough to have well-developed traditions of literature and would not welcome radical departures from the norm. So this will not encourage experimentation in form or thought, but will expect adherence to its rules of practice. The translation will thus adjust to the receptor culture and not vice versa.

Translations that occupy primary position will try to retain the flavour of the original and will emphasize their fidelity or faithfulness to the original. Translations that are considered secondary, on the other hand, will be eager to please the receptor culture and cannot afford to be like the original. It will have to be ‘smoothed over' by making it more like the receptor culture. Naturally they will not have the quality of being faithful to the original. Indian language works which are translated into English usually have glosses for culture-specific terms, or are more Anglicised. This is because translations of Indian language works have a peripheral position in the Anglo-American literary polysystem.