THE LINGUISTIC FOOTPRINT OF CULTURE: ANALYZING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REALIA
Abstract
This paper explores cultural realia-those culture-specific items for which there seems no direct equivalent in other languages- and their respective roles in translation, language teaching, and intercultural communication. It describes realia as words or concepts entrenched in a specific culture with an outlook upon identity, value, and worldview. The study offers a classification that divides realia into material objects, social customs, historical references, idioms, and some abstract concepts. These elements pose considerable challenges in translating them due to the heavy cultural implications involved. Then, translators are balance on domestication vs. foreignization, explanations vs. substitutions to reveal how these strategies allow for meaning and cultural context to inform one another. In education, realia build intercultural competence and thus help learners understand not just the language but the underlying cultural practices. They incorporate contextualization, role-playing, and digital tools. Ultimately, realia are essential for an interaction between cultures. It is either a very strong source of misunderstanding or means to building cultural empathy, dependent upon how it is dealt with. This study contributes toward expounding cultural significance through language.
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