Foreignization

Foreignization is a translation strategy in which the translator deliberately deviates from the conventions of the target language to retain elements of the source text's foreignness, including its syntax, vocabulary, and cultural nuances. It prioritizes the source text's structure and meaning, aiming to make the reader aware of the 'otherness' and the cultural context of the original. It often involves literal translation, calques, and the incorporation of foreign words and phrases. It's the opposite of domestication, which seeks to make the text more familiar and accessible to the target audience. It is a method that encourages the reader to step into the source culture instead of changing the source to the target.

Foreignization meaning with examples

• In translating ancient Greek poetry, the foreignization strategy involves retaining the original Greek syntax, even if it sounds awkward in English, allowing the reader to experience the poem's rhythm and thought patterns as they were originally intended. This emphasizes the cultural and historical distance and enhances the exotic feeling of the text. Doing this challenges the readers familiar expectations.
• The translator adopted a foreignization approach to render a Japanese haiku. The original structure (5-7-5 syllables), along with some untranslated Japanese words, has been included. The use of unusual English words has provided insights into the source culture, offering a richer understanding of Japanese aesthetics. This technique preserves the originality and challenges the reader.
• When translating a philosophical text from German, the translator chose foreignization and maintained complex sentence structures and neologisms. This conveys the specific terminology to the reader while exposing them to the German way of argumentation. The reader faces new cultural points and learns a new language, understanding the source language and the unfamiliar culture.
• To translate a novel set in a remote region, the translator used a foreignization approach by incorporating local dialects and untranslated phrases. It helps the reader to understand the local culture. The reader becomes immersed in the world of the novel, experiencing the authenticity of the place and its people. This approach transports the reader.