The Translation of Realia: How to render words that mean culture-specific things - Couverture souple

Florin, Vlahov

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9791281358874

Editeur : Bruno Osimo, 2026

Synopsis

What happens when a word carries an entire culture within it?

From national dishes and traditional clothing to historical institutions, local currencies, and unique folklore, every language contains realia—culture-bound terms that lack direct dictionary equivalents[cite: 1]. How can a translator convey both the objective semantic meaning and the subtle cultural sense of these terms without stripping a text of its original flavor or creating an unnatural barrier for the reader[cite: 1]?

Originally written by groundbreaking translation scholars Sergei Vlakhov and Sider Florin, Perevod realij stands as one of the most comprehensive, rigorous, and influential studies on handling cultural specificity in translation[cite: 1]. Now translated, edited, and contextualized by Bruno Osimo, this seminal work is accessible to English-speaking translators, scholars, and students for the first time[cite: 1].

Inside this landmark volume, you will explore:

• A comprehensive classification of realia: Clear categorization by geography, history, everyday life, social structure, and political organization[cite: 1].


• Practical rendering procedures: Detailed analysis of transcription, transliteration, calques, semicalques, semantic neologisms, functional analogues, and descriptive adaptation[cite: 1].


• Preserving sense vs. meaning: How to balance precise semantic accuracy (meaning) with stylistic nuance and contextual resonance (sense)[cite: 1].


• Strategic decision-making: Frameworks for choosing between transcription and translation based on text genre, target audience, and the cultural distance between sender and receiver cultures[cite: 1].


• Extensive literary case studies: Real-world examples demonstrating how master translators overcome complex cross-cultural challenges[cite: 1].

Why This Book Belongs on Your Bookshelf

Unlike standard translation manuals that treat cultural terms as mere vocabulary gaps, Vlakhov and Florin provide a deep theoretical and methodological framework[cite: 1]. They examine the precise mechanics of how realia function within a literary work—how they carry historical weight, national color, and emotional atmosphere[cite: 1]. This volume equips you with actionable strategies to handle untranslatable words with confidence and precision[cite: 1].

Who Is This Book For?

• Practicing Translators: Master practical techniques for rendering culture-bound terms smoothly without losing contextual depth[cite: 1].


• Translation Studies Scholars & Students: Gain access to a foundational European text that shaped modern translation theory[cite: 1].


• Linguists & Semioticians: Examine the intricate relationship between language, culture, referents, and textual meaning[cite: 1].

Whether you are tackling a complex literary translation, researching cultural mediation, or seeking to refine your approach to non-equivalent lexicon, Translating the Culturally Specific provides the essential theoretical foundation and practical toolkit to navigate translation’s greatest challenges[cite: 1].

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Bruno Osimo
• Date d'édition: 2026
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9791281358874
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 84
• Éditeur: Osimo Bruno
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg