What is it about?
This study explores how the phrase "I think" is used in TED Talks to express opinions, build rapport with audiences, and structure discourse. It analyzes how this phrase is translated into Turkish and investigates whether cultural or linguistic differences affect its translation. By examining a corpus of TED Talks and their Turkish translations, the research sheds light on the pragmatic functions of "I think" and its equivalents in Turkish, such as "bence" and "sanırım." The findings contribute to understanding how speech acts are adapted across languages and cultures in professional and public communication.
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Why is it important?
This research is significant because it highlights the role of language in cross-cultural communication and how pragmatic markers like "I think" influence audience perception. By analyzing translations of TED Talks, the study not only contributes to translation studies but also provides insights into the linguistic strategies that make public speaking effective across different cultures. The results are relevant for translators, linguists, and professionals in communication who aim to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps.
Perspectives
As a researcher, I found it fascinating to observe the subtle ways in which a seemingly simple phrase like "I think" operates in English and how its translation into Turkish reflects both linguistic creativity and cultural norms. This study reinforced my appreciation for the complexities of cross-cultural communication and the challenges faced by translators in preserving meaning while adapting to the target language's context.
Aytaç Çeltek
Kırıkkale University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The functions of “I think” in TED Talks and their Turkish translations, Pragmatics & Cognition, December 2024, John Benjamins,
DOI: 10.1075/pc.24006.cel.
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