Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation

Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry and, therefore, one of the most important categories marketed and promoted globally. However, the way adventure tourism is represented and perceived differs markedly from one culture to another. Based on how tourism i...

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Main Authors: Mohamed Zain Sulaiman, Wilson, Rita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2018
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/1/26708-83137-1-PB.pdf
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author Mohamed Zain Sulaiman,
Wilson, Rita
author_facet Mohamed Zain Sulaiman,
Wilson, Rita
author_sort Mohamed Zain Sulaiman,
building UKM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry and, therefore, one of the most important categories marketed and promoted globally. However, the way adventure tourism is represented and perceived differs markedly from one culture to another. Based on how tourism is conceptualised in a particular culture, themes are carefully selected and exploited in promoting ‘adventure’ tourism. The differences in how tourism is conceptualised across cultures pose a key challenge for translators of tourism promotional materials (TPMs), whose role is to produce an effective translation in the target language and culture. Translating TPMs effectively for different cultures often requires changes and adjustments to be made in order to preserve the most vital aspect of TPMs, that is, their functionality. This paper explores the challenges involved in translating English TPMs into Malay and investigates the extent to which the action theme of adventure employed to lure Anglophone tourists is compatible with Malay culture. Three types of textual analysis are carried out: source text analysis, parallel text analysis and target text analysis. The textual analyses are then complemented by findings derived from focus groups. The findings of the study demonstrate how adventure tourism is conceptualised within the notion of action in the Anglo culture, and how this contrasts with the way it is framed within the notion of relaxation in Malay culture. Based on the findings derived from the textual analyses and focus groups, we conclude by proposing potential strategies for the production of functionally adequate translations, which take into consideration the cultural conceptualisation of the target culture.
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spelling oai:generic.eprints.org:176032021-11-22T04:55:13Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/ Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation Mohamed Zain Sulaiman, Wilson, Rita Adventure tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the tourism industry and, therefore, one of the most important categories marketed and promoted globally. However, the way adventure tourism is represented and perceived differs markedly from one culture to another. Based on how tourism is conceptualised in a particular culture, themes are carefully selected and exploited in promoting ‘adventure’ tourism. The differences in how tourism is conceptualised across cultures pose a key challenge for translators of tourism promotional materials (TPMs), whose role is to produce an effective translation in the target language and culture. Translating TPMs effectively for different cultures often requires changes and adjustments to be made in order to preserve the most vital aspect of TPMs, that is, their functionality. This paper explores the challenges involved in translating English TPMs into Malay and investigates the extent to which the action theme of adventure employed to lure Anglophone tourists is compatible with Malay culture. Three types of textual analysis are carried out: source text analysis, parallel text analysis and target text analysis. The textual analyses are then complemented by findings derived from focus groups. The findings of the study demonstrate how adventure tourism is conceptualised within the notion of action in the Anglo culture, and how this contrasts with the way it is framed within the notion of relaxation in Malay culture. Based on the findings derived from the textual analyses and focus groups, we conclude by proposing potential strategies for the production of functionally adequate translations, which take into consideration the cultural conceptualisation of the target culture. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2018-08 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/1/26708-83137-1-PB.pdf Mohamed Zain Sulaiman, and Wilson, Rita (2018) Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation. GEMA ; Online Journal of Language Studies, 18 (3). pp. 1-16. ISSN 1675-8021 https://ejournal.ukm.my/gema/issue/view/1098
spellingShingle Mohamed Zain Sulaiman,
Wilson, Rita
Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title_full Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title_fullStr Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title_full_unstemmed Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title_short Translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
title_sort translating adventure tourism : from action to relaxation
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/17603/1/26708-83137-1-PB.pdf