TRANSLATION AND EDITING POLICY GUIDELINES: A SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

Abstract:

Although translation policy is crucial in language policy, it is understudied in many countries. This understudy unfortunately is an international phenomenon, touching many cultures and countries including the Republic of South Africa. To further support this, scholars such as Sandrini contend that it is only recently that research on translation policy has pricked the interest of researchers in the niche of translation policies - hence this study. Studying language and translation policies is important to understand their role in the creation and impact of democratic citizenship particularly in multilingual environments. Following the prescripts of the South African Constitution (Section 6, Act 108 of 1996), translation policy guidelines were developed by the National Language Service, a chief directorate under the Department of Arts and Culture.  The purpose of this paper is to analyse these Policy Guidelines, to examine their chances of success in attaining what the Department of Arts and Culture as the custodian of diverse cultural, artistic, and linguistic heritage in South Africa, set out to achieve. From the analysis done and in the light of Sandrini’s model (2016), it became evident that the translation policy guidelines understudy needed to be revised to meet the current developments and future technological advancement in the Republic of South Africa. It is therefore hoped that once the revision of the translation policy guidelines has been undertaken, a better product and a smooth working relationship amongst all the stakeholders involved in the translation services in South Africa would be enhanced.