Translation and Cultural Understanding in Indian Languages

Abstract

Translation is as old as human civilization. With the evolution of human society, we became more anxious to know about the feelings of people in distant places. Hence, we used symbols and codes to transfer the thoughts and ideas of people speaking a different language to our own language. This gave rise to translation as we see and use it today. My article analyzes the role of translation from the Indian perspective, which is a nation of ethnic and cultural diversity and where people speak multi-languages. Without translation, India with its 22 languages, 15 different scripts, hundreds of mother tongues, and thousands of dialects would have remained a mono-cultural world, deprived of its rich and diverse ancient heritage. Before coming to deal with translation, in India’s multifaceted linguistic ecosystem, translation emerges not merely as a linguistic exercise but as a profound mechanism for cultural negotiation and empathy. It investigates the evolution of interlingual transfers from ancient Sanskrit-centric traditions to contemporary multilingual endeavors, highlighting obstacles such as the conveyance of aesthetic subtleties like emotional essence (rasa) and implied connotations (dhvani). Through case analyses of seminal works, including adaptations of epic narratives, it delineates methodologies that harmonize fidelity to source materials with accessibility in target contexts. Ultimately, the study posits that robust translation frameworks bolster intercultural harmony, mitigate regional isolations, and enrich collective consciousness, offering pathways for policy enhancements and technological integrations in an era of digital globalization.