L'implicite culturel dans la traduction

Implied meaning is not an inherent part of translation, but it is important all the same as no one says everything while speaking. Implied messages are often perceived through shared experiences. To decode and encode an implied cultural meaning calls for a thorough understanding of that culture. The translator should be able to distinguish a consciously implied meaning from an unconscious one. In the former, the locutor passes on the message indirectly but is not ready to accept responsibility for the implied meaning. In the second case, the locutor has no intention to deliberately hide his intentions behind the words. However, this can lead to intercultural communication problems.

To my mind, the attitude of a translator to these implied meanings is this: be as faithful as possible to the spirit of the deliberately hidden message, but be more explicit where the implied meaning seems to have been hidden unconsciously. There is however need for caution as the translator cannot be too sure of knowing the attitude of the author all the time.