Lost in political translation: (Mis)translation of an intertextual reference and its political consequences: the case of Iran

Abstract

One of the most challenging aspects of translation is dealing with intertextual references, the implicit or explicit relations a text/talk may establish with prior and sometimes contemporary works. The translation of intertextual references of either type needs to receive more attention in political translation, as any misinterpretations or mistranslations in this area may have negative social, ideological and/or diplomatic consequences among nations. This article makes an initial quest for a relationship between intertextuality and ideology and discusses some potential difficulties a translator may encounter in the translation of intertextual references in the context of political speech. Drawing on Hervey et al.'s (1995) framework for analysis and translation of such references and in the light of Yang's (2012) concept of Political Equivalence, the article studies a case of an intertextual reference delivered by the former President of Iran in an international conference which is assumed to be mistranslated by the media. The article will then discuss some possible causes of the so-called mistranslation, and suggest a number of concrete guidelines for a more efficient and effective translation of intertextual references in political speech.