TRANSLATING CULTURES: PERSPECTIVES ON TRANSLATION AND ANTHROPOLOGY; ED. BY PAULA RUBEL

The task of the anthropologist is to take ideas, concepts and beliefs from one culture and translate them into first another language, and then into the language of anthropology. This process is both fascinating and complex. Not only does it raise questions about the limitations of language, but it also challenges the ability of the anthropologist to communicate culture accurately. In recent years, postmodern theories have tended to call into question the legitimacy of translation altogether. This book acknowledges the problems involved, but shows definitively that 'translating cultures' can successfully be achieved. The way we talk, write, read and interpret are all part of a translation process. Many of us are not aware of translation in our everyday lives, but for those living outside their native culture, surrounded by cultural difference, the ability to translate experiences and thoughts becomes a major issue. Drawing on case studies and theories from a wide range of disciplines -including anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, art history, folk theory, and religious studies - this book systematically interrogates the meaning, complexities and importance of translation in anthropology and answers a wide range of provocative questions, such as: - Can we unravel the true meaning of the Christian doctrine of trinity when there have been so many translations? - What impact do colonial and postcolonial power structures have on our understanding of other cultures? - How can we use art as a means of transgressing the limitations of linguistic translation? Translating Cultures: Perspectives on Translation and Anthropology is the first book fully to address translation in anthropology. It combines textual and ethnographic analysis to produce a benchmark publication that will be of great importance to anthropologists, philosophers, linguists, historians, and cultural theorists alike. "The task of the anthropologist is to take ideas, concepts and beliefs from one culture and translate them into first another language, and then into the language of anthropology. This process is both fascinating and complex. Not only does it raise questions about the limitations of language, but it also challenges the ability of the anthropologist to communicate culture accurately. In recent years, postmodern theories have tended to call into question the legitimacy of translation altogether. This book acknowledges the problems involved, but shows definitively that 'translating cultures' can successfully be achieved. The way we talk, write, read and interpret are all part of a translation process. Many of us are not aware of translation in our everyday lives, but for those living outside their native culture, surrounded by cultural difference, the ability to translate experiences and thoughts becomes a major issue. Drawing on case studies and theories from a wide range of disciplines-including anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, art history, folk theory, and religious studies--this book systematically interrogates the meaning, complexities and importance of translation in anthropology and answers a wide range of provocative questions, such as: --Can we unravel the true meaning of the Christian doctrine of trinity when there have been so many translations? --What impact do colonial and postcolonial power structures have on our understanding of other cultures? --How can we use art as a means of transgressing the limitations of linguistic translation? Translating Cultures: Perspectives on Translation and Anthropology is the first book fully to address translation in anthropology. It combines textual and ethnographic analysis to produce a benchmark publication that will be of great importance to anthropologists, philosophers, linguists, historians, and cultural theorists alike."--Bloomsbury Publishing The task of the anthropologist is to take ideas, concepts and beliefs from one culture and translate them into first another language, and then into the language of anthropology. This process is both fascinating and complex. Not only does it raise questions about the limitations of language, but it also challenges the ability of the anthropologist to communicate another culture accurately. In recent years, postmodern theories have tended to call into question the legitimacy of translation altogether. This book acknowledges the problems involved, but shows definitively that 'translating cultures' can successfully be achieved. The way we talk, write, read and interpret are all part of a translation process. Many of us are not aware of translation in our everyday lives, but for those living outside their native culture, surrounded by cultural difference, the ability to translate experiences and thoughts becomes a major issue. Drawing on case studies and theories from a wide range of disciplines -- including anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, art history, folk theory, and religious studies -- this book systematically interrogates the meaning, complexities and importance of translation in anthropology and answers a wide range of provocative questions, such as: Can we unravel the meaning of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity when there have been so many translations? What impact do colonial and postcolonal power structures have on our understanding and translation of other cultures? How can we use art as a means of transgressing the limitations of linguistic translation? Translating Cultures: Perspectives on Translation and Anthropology is the first book to fully address translation in anthropology. It combines textual and ethnographic analysis to produce a benchmark publication that will be of great importance to anthropologists, philosophers, linguists, historians, and cultural theorists alike. Lyotard And Wittgenstein And The Question Of Translation / Aram A. Yengoyan -- Translation And Belief Ascription : Fundamental Barriers / Todd Jones -- Translation, Transduction, Transformation : Skating Glossando On Thin Semiotic Ice / Michael Silverstein -- The Unspeakable In Pursuit Of The Ineffable : Representations Of Untranslatability In Ethnographic Discourse / Michael Herzfeld -- Translating Folk Theories Of Translation / Deborah Kapchan. Second Language, National Language, Modern Language, And Post-colonial Voice : On Indonesian / Webb Keane -- Notes On Transliteration / Brinckley Messick -- The Ethnographer As Pontifex / Benson Saler -- Text Translation As A Prelude For Soul Translation / Alan F. Segal -- Structural Impediments To Translation In Art / Wyatt Macgaffey -- Are Kinship Terminologies And Kinship Concepts Translatable? / Abraham Rosman And Paula G. Rubel. Edited By Paula G. Rubel And Abraham Rosman. Chiefly Papers Presented At A Conference, Translation And Anthropology, Held At Barnard College, Columbia University, 10-12 November 1998. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The task of the anthropologist is to take ideas, concepts and beliefs from one culture and translate them into first another language, and then into the language of anthropology. Not only does this process raise questions about the limitations of language, but it also challenges the ability of the anthropologist to communicate another culture accurately. This book shows that 'translating cultures' can be achieved. The way we talk, write, read and interpret are all part of a translation process. Case studies and theories from a wide range of disciplines -- including anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, art history, folk theory, and religious studies -- answer a wide range of provocative questions, such as: Can we unravel the meaning of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity when there have been so many translations? What impact do colonial and postcolonal power structures have on our understanding and translation of other cultures? How can we use art as a means of transgressing the limitations of linguistic translation? The way we talk, write, read and interpret are all part of a translation process. Many of us are not aware of translation in our everyday lives, but for those living outside their native culture, surrounded by cultural difference, the ability to translate experiences and thoughts becomes a major issue. Drawing on case studies and theories from a wide range of disciplines - including anthropology, philosophy, linguistics, art history, folk theory and religious studies - this book systematically interrogates the meaning, complexities and importance of translation in anthropology and answers a wide range of provocative questions, such as: can we unravel the true meaning of the Christian doctrine of trinity when there have been so many translations?; what impact do colonial and postcolonial power structures have on our understanding of other cultures?; and how can we use art as a means of transgressing the limitations of linguistic translation? The task of the anthropologist is to take ideas, concepts and beliefs from one culture and translate them into first another language, and then into the language of anthropology. This process is both fascinating and complex. Not only does it raise qu estions about the limitations of language, but it also challenges the ability of the anthropologist to communicate culture accurately. In recent years, postmodern theories have tended to call into question the legitimacy of translation altogether. Th is book acknowledges the problems involved, but shows definitively that 'translating cultures' can "Translating Cultures: Perspectives on Translation and Anthropology" is the first book fully to address translation in anthropology. It combines textual and ethnographic analysis to produce a publication that should be of great importance to anthropologists, philosophers, linguists, historians, and cultural theorists alike