Imagination and Translation

A beautiful pairing of words—imagination and translation. Together, they open the door to endless creativity and cultural discovery. They are social and cognitive dimensions of language. 

Imagination and the act of Translation

Imagination lets us dream beyond the present, sculpting stories, images, and emotions out of thin air. Theory of the Imaginaries of Translation" significantly refers to how cultural and social contexts influence the process and perception of translation.

The psychology of language defines linguistic imagination and shapes cognitive dimension of translation. In that sense, translation takes contexts, values, symbolic meanings and dreams, makes them accessible, carrying them across boundaries of language, geography, and experience. 

Imagination is the invisible brushstroke behind every inspired translation. It’s what allows a translator not just to carry meaning from one language to another, but to breathe life into it for an entirely new audience.

How Imagination fundamentally shapes the process of Translation 

Incorporating imagination in translation takes the meaning of words across cultural boundaries as it gives voice to words.

• Seeing Beyond Words.

Literal translation can leave writing flat or confusing. Imagination lets a translator intuit the emotion, intent, or rhythm behind the words—and then recreate that essence in a different language. They don’t just translate, they transform.

• Creating Cultural Bridges

Every culture has its own references, humor, values, and taboos. Imagination helps a translator recognize when something won’t land—and invent a parallel image or phrase that will.

• Giving Voice to the Untranslatable

Some expressions have no direct equivalents. Think of Japanese “wabi-sabi” or Portuguese “saudade.” Imagination gives the translator the tools to weave that feeling into the fabric of the new text without simply explaining it away.

• Reviving Tone and Style

A gothic ghost story, a fast-paced thriller, a lyrical poem—each one sings in its own style. Imagination lets the translator match that music in a new key. It’s less like copying a tune, and more like composing a cover that still gives you chills.

At its best, translation is an art form—and imagination is the artist’s intuition. Without it, even the most accurate translation might miss the heart of the original. 

Imaginaries and imagination influence translation approach, reception and perception of the text, and value of translation within a society. 

References 

Bezari, C., Raimondo, R., & Vuong, T. (2019). The Theory of the Imaginaries of Translation. Itinéraires, 2018-2 et 3. https://doi.org/10.4000/itineraires.5077

Abrantes, A. M. (2015). Translation and imagination. Openbooks.ucp.pt. https://doi.org/10.34632/9789725404645

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