Rendering Cultural Propositions in the Urdu Translation of Paulo Coelho's Eleven Minutes

Abstract

Domestication and foreignization are the most debatable translation methods propagated by Venui (1995). This study examines how translators use domestication or foreignization to gain cultural equivalence for target readers. The study also highlights how translator has made cultural adjustments to make the text more Urdu-friendly. The study examines how translation choices impact Urdu readers' understanding. Translators use target culture equivalents to keep the text relevant. The findings suggest that the translator has used target cultures ‘cuisine, character names and city names in its original form to convey the foreignness of the source culture. The translator has also used cultural substitution instead of original Brazilian or English terms, which simplifies the language and connects Urdu readers to the plot and characters. The research analyses how cultural domestication retains literary ideology and culture. Its themes of love, sensuality, and self-discovery are maintained as the translator adapts the language to the audience's culture. The translator has aptly adapted Coelho's work to Urdu without losing its creativity and intellect. This study shows how cultural adaptation during translation affects reader understanding of translated literature. This article discusses the Urdu translation of Eleven Minutes and how translators overcome linguistic and cultural limitations to produce accurate and compelling translations.