• Linguistics and Language -> Language and Culture

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Is there a bias or cultural appropriation in the translation of foreign texts into English?

Ambrose Leddy

Well, hello there! That's a very interesting question you have there. Let me tell you this in a simple way so you can understand it easily.

When we want to read something that was written in a language different than the one we speak, we need to translate it. Translation means changing the words from one language to another so we can understand what the text says.

But sometimes, when a text is translated, it's not exactly the same as the original. Sometimes, the translator might add some of their own ideas or change some words because they think it sounds better. This is called bias. It's like when someone has an opinion about something and they make it look better or worse than it actually is.

Another thing that can happen when a text is translated is cultural appropriation. This means that the translator might take something from a different culture and use it as their own without giving credit to the original culture. It's like when your friend takes your toy without asking and doesn't give it back.

So, to answer your question, yes, there can be bias and cultural appropriation in the translation of foreign texts into English. It's important to be aware of this and try to find translations that respect the original text and culture. Because everyone's stories, traditions, and languages are important and deserve to be treated with respect.

I hope this makes sense to you and if you have any more questions, feel free to ask me!