Interest Matters: A Motivational Variable in Translation - Survey on the Interest Area

Abstract

Translation has been considered a readily accessible tool that can be utilized to build national image, possibly ensure intercultural communication and the exchange of knowledge between any two given countries that differ in culture and belong to different language groups. Deliberating on the question of what to translate? Who to translate for? And what topic will interest a particular target population in space and time, this article through a survey, investigated the interest areas of foreigners, particularly Ghanaians about knowing China, to initiate a purposeful translation activity base on the topmost interest area of the target population. The results of the findings indicated that Ghanaians are interested in a translated material on China’s trade policy and E-commerce, an outcome that runs contrary to the presumption of the author that Ghanaians would be interested in Chinese culture and Chinese medicine. This study has also through empirical evidence, demonstrated and proposed the need for the consideration of the “concept of interest” of both the audience and the translator involved in translation action especially for those involved in domain-specific translations. This study creates awareness and calls for the consideration of the concept of interest in translation. It also contributes new knowledge to the existing literature in the field of translation and applied linguistics.