Orientation: Domestication or Foreignization?

Cultural problem commonly arising in translation is related to the cultural differences between the two languages involved. The strategy used by a translator to face this cultural problem may be determined by his/her ideology. Newmark in Nugroho et al (2009: 8) states that the choice between communicative and semantic is partly determined by orientation towards the social or the individual, that is, towards mass readership or towards the individual voice of the next producer. The choice is implicitly presented as ideological.

A translator is facing two choices: whether he/she is oriented to the target readers, or keeping the text with all aspects inside it. There are two contradicting tendencies called domestication and foreignization.

a.         Domestication

Domestication is chosen due to a belief that the target text should be equal with the culture of the target readers (Hoed in Nugroho et al, 2009: 9). A translator tends to be oriented to the target text readers. Therefore, the methods used are communicative, idiomatic, free, or adapted translation.

Table 12: Advantages and Disadvantages of Domestication

Advantages	Disadvantages
The target text readers can easily understand the target text.	The aspects in the Source Language are often faded.
The target text sounds natural and communicative.	The target text readers cannot interpret the text because the interpretation has been done by the translator.
Cultural assimilation may happen.	The target text readers do not get knowledge of the source language.

 

b.         Foreignization

Foreignization in translation can be used to keep the culture of the source language by involving cultural aspects in the Source Language to the Target Language. It is hoped that intercultural learning can be done through the translation. Translators who use this ideology tend to be oriented to the Target Language. They will use word-for-word, literal, faithful, or semantic translation method.

Table 13: Advantages and Disadvantages of Foreignization

Advantages	Disadvantages
The target text readers can understand the culture of the Source Language.	The target text readers may feel unfamiliar with some terms of the Source Language.
The target text gives the taste of the Source Language culture to the target text readers.	The target text sometimes sounds complex and unnatural.
Intercultural learning may happen.	Some negative aspects in the Source Language may easily influence the target text readers.