Use of Domesticated and Foreignized Methods in the Soviet School of Translation

Abstract

The article focuses on prevailing translation methods used in the Soviet translation school. The main aim of the research is to analyze translation strategies; principles and methods used by Soviet translators who were forced to work in a cultural vacuum under strong ideological influence. The absolute priority of domesticated translation in the Soviet translation school is compared with strongly criticized foreignized translation. The primary use of the domesticated method of translation depended not on the personal tastes of the translators or current tendencies but on an artificial ideologically influenced cultural environment which was almost completely isolated from foreign cultures. The whole translation process in the Soviet Union differed greatly from that in democratic societies. It was inevitably influenced by an institution of censorship and strict centralization. In spite of all; there were intense efforts made by translators to preserve and even expand the horizons of the readers; to maintain a minimal cultural level; and to circumvent censorship.

Keywords

• Soviet Union
• domesticated translation
• foreignized translation
• ideology
• censorship