The Role Played by Translation Within Cross-Cultural Communication: Case Study From EFL Teachers Based at Haql University College, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

—This study aims to enhance the cross-cultural communication skills of EFL learners and demonstrate the importance that translation has for cross-cultural forms of communication. A descriptive analytical method was followed in the study along with the distribution of a questionnaire to nineteen EFL teachers so that the necessary data could be collected. There was then statistical analysis of the data collected using the SPSS software 23. Many findings came out of the study, amongst the most important of which are that many skills are required in translation so that the original message can be conveyed into the language being targeted. Cross-cultural skills of communication of the EFL learners are improved in using translation. A number of cultural items that exist within a particular culture may not exist within another culture so there are some cultural items that are untranslatable. A vital role is played by translation in creating a general and universal culture. Without cultural universalities and similarities, people from different cultures have no way to communicate with one another and there will be an impossibility for translation to master the knowledge of differences and similarities between L2 and L1. The language accuracy of translators is developed through use of translation. This study recommends that the original message ought to be conveyed into the language being targeted by translation, and that communicators and learners of EFL ought to be able to communicate culturally through translation, and that translation ought to enable the so-called fifth language skill to be mastered by communicators.