Why do we Translate texts?

One cannot simply overlook the stark divide between languages. Grammatical structures, syntactic possibilities, voice, wordplay, slang, style, pop culture references..etc. are all elements that are unique to every language. 

Linguist Abdo Abboud refers to Literature as "a mirror of the social and cultural relationships within a people, a society and a culture. When works of literature are translated from a foreign language, the recipients in the new language are enabled to obtain insight into the social and cultural conditions of that people or nation.” Indeed, literature is a voice for social commentary, and through it, we can explore the nuances but also inter-connectedness of culture, history and politics and their influences. With the hundreds of languages spoken in our world today, unfortunately, one cannot learn all of them, so what tool is there to decipher the elements aforementioned in languages we do not speak? Translation! Its complexity goes well beyond a linguistic process; it's rather an intercultural exchange since every text or work can never be isolated from its context. Thus, translated texts provide us with the opportunities to become acquainted with foreign cultures and conceptual ideas. They act as a bridge between the insights from different cultural perspectives. Through these texts, we are exposed to distilled, authentic views and experiences as opposed to two-dimensional impressions. Ultimately, expanding our appreciation of different cultures and traditions. 

Translation is a reconciliation agent that can emphasize the unifying aspects of the world which facilitates the shaping of our attitudes as readers to become internationally minded citizens. There’s a certain degree of stability in western literature, so reading texts from different languages and contexts will provide us with the exposure to unique types of conflicts, even political ones. Translated texts have a critical influence on politics and the need for them is immense. Through the translated version of Naguib Mahfouz's “The Thief and the Dogs” for example, the book was made available to a much broader audience. This impressionist novel moves with the speed and economy of a detective story, where Mahfouz uses the stream of consciousness technique to portray the mental anguish of his central character "Saeed" who is consumed by a desire for revenge against society for he believes they have corrupted and betrayed him and brought about his inevitable damnation, that highlights the protagonist's disillusionment and despair.  This will ultimately increase the reader's familiarity and sharpen their perception of what drives individuals both spiritually and politically in the Egyptian society in terms of values and structure.

While translated texts challenge the authority of the divide between languages and are essentially openings to other cultures, there is a challenge in providing a piece that is common to the shared state of knowledge to all individuals. Considering the untranslatability of some words, translators might be forced to subterfuge the language. Thus, a loss of the subtleties of meaning is unavoidable. Moreover, preserving the original structure’s ambience, intimacy and overall pungent authenticity of the work is very challenging; especially that the propensity of cultural cross-pollination is dramatically increasing in such a globalised world. 

but as said:“where there’s loss, there’s gain that comes with that sharp focus, too.”