Translating Cultural Identity: A Study of Persian-English Literary Translation in the ۲۱st Century

Translation is not merely a linguistic transfer; it is a negotiation of cultural identity. This study investigates how Persian-English literary translators mediate Iranian cultural identity when translating contemporary Persian short stories into English. Using a corpus of ten Persian short stories published between ۲۰۰۵ and ۲۰۲۰ and their official English translations, the study employs qualitative textual analysis and semi-structured interviews with translators to examine translation strategies, cultural adaptation, and identity representation. Findings indicate that translators navigate between foreignization and domestication, balancing fidelity to Persian cultural markers with readability for international audiences. Cultural idioms, historical references, and literary aesthetics are selectively adapted or preserved depending on the translators’ choices, target readership, and publishing norms. The study highlights translation as a complex site of cultural mediation and suggests pedagogical implications for teaching translation and promoting Iranian literary heritage globally.

کلیدواژه ها:

translation studies ، literary translation ، Persian literature ، cultural identity ، bilingualism ، foreignization ، domestication