Experts vs. non-experts : does expertise affect competence when it comes to the translation of culturemes?

Abstract

The translation of literary works often faces obstacles due to cultural differences between source languages (SL) and target languages (TL). These obstacles can hinder effective translation, especially when it comes to lexical choices and meanings. Translators generally employ creative approaches and techniques to convey cultural nuances, abstract concepts, facts, ideas, opinions, and phenomena unique to the SL. This is especially important in the case of culturemes, those unique linguistic and cultural elements embedded within a literary work. But cultural barriers are not the only aspect that can get in the way during the process of translation. More often than not, the level of expertise of the translators can play a decisive role too. Experts (professional translators) and non-experts (English teachers) may possess different skills and competencies that can affect their work in various ways, such as SL knowledge, linguistic precision, literary style, cultural contexts, translations strategies and techniques, among others.