Conclusion

These are but a few of the challenges faced by translators today, especially if they represent a minority language. In the contemporary globalized world, a minority language can be seen as the representative of the local against a global, powerful language. The activity of translation from the dominant language can be done in such a way as to ensure that its individuality is retained even as knowledge transfer is done from the dominant languages. This can become an effective resistance to the tendency to homogenize and to retain cultural and linguistic specificities. Translation provides minority languages with an opportunity to prevent them from becoming nothing more than pale reflections of the dominant / major language and to preserve their identities with respect to their language and culture.

Assignments

1. What is the concept of chronopolitics? How has it affected translation theory and practice?
2. Based on a reading of this lecture, evaluate the position of your mother-tongue with respect to English.

Reference:
Cronin, Michael. Translation and Globalization. London: Routledge, 2003, rpt.2004.