Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication

Abstract In recent years, research integrating translation studies with impoliteness has steadily increased, significantly contributing to the interdisciplinary development of both fields. However, there remains a lack of reviews that examine how impoliteness is translated across languages and cultu...

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Main Authors: Wei Yang, Syed Nurulakla Syed Abdullah, Lay Hoon Ang, Mingxing Yang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer Nature 2025-07-01
Series:Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05092-4
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author Wei Yang
Syed Nurulakla Syed Abdullah
Lay Hoon Ang
Mingxing Yang
author_facet Wei Yang
Syed Nurulakla Syed Abdullah
Lay Hoon Ang
Mingxing Yang
author_sort Wei Yang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In recent years, research integrating translation studies with impoliteness has steadily increased, significantly contributing to the interdisciplinary development of both fields. However, there remains a lack of reviews that examine how impoliteness is translated across languages and cultures, particularly from a pragmatic standpoint. This study addresses this gap by providing a focused literature review of translation studies on impoliteness, centered on current research trends, methodologies, and analytical perspectives. Twenty-one articles published between 1998 and 2023 were selected from the Scopus and Science Direct databases, focusing on translation studies and impoliteness. Analysis of these studies reveals that cultural differences represent a primary challenge when translating impoliteness. In response, strategies such as euphemism and omission are commonly adopted, often resulting in a dilution of the original pragmatic force. The findings of this study aim to guide future interdisciplinary research on translation studies and impoliteness for translators and researchers, highlighting key challenges and practical strategies in translating impoliteness across cultural boundaries.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2662-9992
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Springer Nature
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series Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
spelling doaj-art-822b1d4149ff4c52ba38d7e332e123112025-08-20T03:46:07ZengSpringer NatureHumanities & Social Sciences Communications2662-99922025-07-0112111210.1057/s41599-025-05092-4Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communicationWei Yang0Syed Nurulakla Syed Abdullah1Lay Hoon Ang2Mingxing Yang3Moutai InstituteUniversiti Putra MalaysiaUniversiti Putra MalaysiaMoutai InstituteAbstract In recent years, research integrating translation studies with impoliteness has steadily increased, significantly contributing to the interdisciplinary development of both fields. However, there remains a lack of reviews that examine how impoliteness is translated across languages and cultures, particularly from a pragmatic standpoint. This study addresses this gap by providing a focused literature review of translation studies on impoliteness, centered on current research trends, methodologies, and analytical perspectives. Twenty-one articles published between 1998 and 2023 were selected from the Scopus and Science Direct databases, focusing on translation studies and impoliteness. Analysis of these studies reveals that cultural differences represent a primary challenge when translating impoliteness. In response, strategies such as euphemism and omission are commonly adopted, often resulting in a dilution of the original pragmatic force. The findings of this study aim to guide future interdisciplinary research on translation studies and impoliteness for translators and researchers, highlighting key challenges and practical strategies in translating impoliteness across cultural boundaries.https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05092-4
spellingShingle Wei Yang
Syed Nurulakla Syed Abdullah
Lay Hoon Ang
Mingxing Yang
Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
Humanities & Social Sciences Communications
title Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
title_full Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
title_fullStr Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
title_full_unstemmed Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
title_short Translating impoliteness - literature review, translation challenges, and translation strategies in cross-cultural communication
title_sort translating impoliteness literature review translation challenges and translation strategies in cross cultural communication
url https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05092-4
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AT mingxingyang translatingimpolitenessliteraturereviewtranslationchallengesandtranslationstrategiesincrossculturalcommunication