The reader

While emphasising the different cultures involved in translation, Lefevere does not forget the reader or the receptor of the translation. In this, he seems to agree with Gideon Toury’s concept of target-oriented translation. Lefevere was of the view that translations vary according to the tastes of the readers. He quotes the famous German writer Goethe as saying: “if you want to influence the masses, a simple translation is always best. Critical translations vying with the original really are of use only for conversations the learned conduct among themselves” (6). What is meant by ‘simple' translation is one that does not disturb the aesthetic sensibility of the reader too much or one that, according to Lefevere, “wholeheartedly naturalizes the original” (6). The translator should use words and sentences that are natural to the common man. It is not only language that s/he should translate, but the customs and habits of the source culture. Certain habits of the source culture might appear strange and offensive to the receptor culture; then the translator should ‘soften' these so that the reader might not be offended. In this context, it is worthwhile to notice how translations into English function. Indian works translated into English almost always have extensive glossaries to explain culture-specific terms. On the other hand, we do not see the same process in the translations of foreign language works into Indian languages. Think of the translations of classics like the Russian master Tolstoy's works. Even the name Anna Karenina is culture-specific. Anna takes on the surname ‘Karenina' because she is the wife of Karenin. But translations do not usually clarify this detail, even when proper nouns threaten to become a hindrance to the smooth reading of Russian books.