Cultural Decomposition: How To Distinguish Figurative From Non-Figurative

Abstract

If interpretation is so essential to the translator's work, some will argue, the entire process of translation will fall outside the realm of Semantics proper, which is the branch of linguistics most relevant to translation. The fact is that work in linguistics semantics has led to the birth of the 'decomposition' theory, alternatively 'componential' analysis, and highly useful observations have been made towards the establishment of a system of analysis capable of universal application. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to bring to light and judge the most common and preferred subjective translation methods used in the translation of cultural (informative) texts with reference to modern theories of the twentieth century which have helped to promote a systematic approach to the translation process. At this early stage, touching on them lightly will be sufficient to understand the course that this study intends to take.