A study of culture specific items and translation strategies in Bahram Beyza'i’s play “Marionettes”

L'objectif de cette recherche est de fournir une analyse de la pièce de théâtre perse ''Marionettes'' de Bahrām Beyzā'ī (1963) ainsi que de sa traduction anglaise (1989) afin de comparer et de mettre en contraste les traits propres à la culture «Culture-specific items» (CSI) et des stratégies de traduction. Les formes problématiques pertinentes des différences culturelles seront étudiées et les procédés suggérés par Newmark (1988) seront examinés afin de déterminer dans quelle mesure ils sont pertinents dans la traduction des différences culturelles du perse à l'anglais. La pièce a été traduite par une équipe de traducteurs: Sujata G.Bhatt, Jacquelin Hoats, Imran A. Nyazee et Kamiar K. Oskouee. (Parvin Loloi et Glyn Pursglove 2002:66). Les oeuvres théâtrales de Beyzā'ī sont basées sur les traditions ainsi que sur le folklore iranien. L'auteur aborde la réalité sous une perspective philosophique. « (Un point de vue) enveloppé dans une cape de comparaisons complexes à tel point que nombre des personnages de son oeuvre errent entre des symboles de la mythologie et de l’histoire, ou sociaux» (M.R. Ghanoonparvar, John Green 1989, p.xxii notre traduction). La classification des éléments culturels de Newmark (1988) va comme suit: «Écologie, culture matérielle, culture sociale, organisations, coutumes / moeurs, gestes et habitudes» (Newmark 1988:95). La recherche mettra l’accent sur les procédés suggérés pour traduire les CSI ainsi que sur les stratégies de traduction selon Newmark. Ces procédés comprennent : «traduction littérale, transfert, équivalent culturel, neutralisation, équivalent fonctionnel, équivalent descriptif, synonymie, par le biais de la traduction, transposition, modulation, traduction reconnue, étiquette de traduction, compensation, analyse componentielle, réduction et expansion, paraphraser, distique, notes, additions, gloses» (Newmark 1988:81-93). L'objectif ici est de déterminer si les procédés suggérés sont applicables à la traduction des CSIs du perse à l'anglais, et quels sont les procédés les plus fréquemment utilisés par les traducteurs.

The impact of culture and corporate governance in dividend policy: evidence from emerging and developed countries

The present research aims to analyse the impact of corporate governance and cultural dimensions in dividend policy. The corporate governance and dividend policy have a close relationship, in that both are evidenced in literature to mitigate agency problems. Cultural factors are also related to agency problems. The existence of agency problems and their solutions differs across countries and it is related to the implementation of the mechanisms of governance. So, cultural factors may have influence on corporate governance and dividend policy. Our sample consists in 1 232 companies belonging to the main indices of 38 countries classified as emerging or developed. To measure the quality of firm level corporate governance, we use the ASSET4 Corporate Governance Performance Index, developed by Thomson Reuters, and as proxy of culture we use three cultural dimensions developed by Geert Hofstede, namely uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and indulgence. We obtained significant empirical evidence that firms with high quality of corporate governance pay higher dividends. With regard to cultural factors, we confirm that in countries with high levels of masculinity and uncertainty avoidance, the dividend payout ratio is lower. On the other hand, countries with high level of indulgence have higher dividend payout ratio. However, we verify that the impact of cultural effects is minimized when the firms have a high quality level of corporate governance. Additionally, we found that the impact of corporate governance and cultural factors in dividend policy differs when dealing with emerging or developed countries.

Effects of culture conditions on larval growth and survival of stalked barnacles (Pollicipes pollicipes).

Pollicipes pollicipes (Crustacea: Scalpelliformes) is a highly prized food in Portugal and Spain and con- sequently a species of considerable interest to aqua- culture. Surprisingly, however, larval culture conditions for this barnacle have not been opti- mized. This study investigated the effects of temper- ature, diet, photoperiod and salinity on the growth and survival of P. pollicipes larvae. Temperature had a significant effect on specific growth rate (2.6–5.9% total width per day, from 11 to 24°C), reducing mean development time to the cyprid from 25 days at 11 °C to 10 days at 24°C, although this was accompanied by a significant increase in mortality to over 90% above 22°C. Mid- range temperatures (15–20°C) maximized total survival (19–31% respectively). Algal diets of Tetra- selmis suecica, T. suecica/Skeletonema marinoi and S. marinoi/Isochrysis galbana did not affect specific growth rate significantly, but survival (on average 39% in 15 days) and the proportion of high-quality healthy cyprids was significantly higher on the lat- ter two diets (11–15% of initial number of larvae). Photoperiod did not significantly affect the survival, although specific growth rate was significantly higher at 24:0 and 16:8 L:D. Salinity (20– 40 g L 1 range) did not affect growth and survival significantly. The best growth and survival were accomplished using rearing temperatures of 15–20°C, daily feeding with T. suecica/S. marinoi or I. galbana/S. marinoi and a photoperiod of 24:0 L:D.

Sodium hypochlorite sterilization of culture medium in micropropagation of Gerbera hybrida cv. Essandre.

Micropropagation requires controlling contamination that might compromise the success of the process. Thermal sterilization is traditionally used; however, costs deriving from equipment acquisition and maintenance render this technique costly. With the purpose of finding an alternative to thermal sterilization, this research aimed at assessing the efficiency and ideal concentration of sodium hypochlorite for sterilization of culture media and glassware used during rooting of micropropagated Gerbera hybrida cv. Essandre. Two experiments were carried out. In the first one, treatments consisted of control I (no sterilization), control II (thermal sterilization), and total active chlorine concentrations of 0.0005, 0.001, 0.002 and 0.003%. In the second experiment, based on the results observed in the first experiment, treatments consisted of control I (thermal sterilization) and II (chemical sterilization), and total active chlorine concentrations of 0.002, 0.0025 and 0.003%. Plant behavior was assessed based on the length of aerial part and roots, number of roots, and dry biomass of plants. Results showed that the addition of an active chlorine concentration of 0.003% to culture media provided total control of contaminants, and there were no significant differences regarding the variables analyzed between plants obtained with thermal sterilization and with sodium hypochlorite sterilization. Thus, chemical sterilization can be used as a replacement for thermal sterilization of nutrition media for rooting of gerbera in vitro.

Território, rede e cultura da tradição: o fado do século XIX no mundo do século XXI

A história do fado começa no século XIX e está entrelaçada por diversas teorias sobre suas origens, as quais continuam sendo debatidas até hoje. Inserido a Lista Representativa do Patrimônio Cultural Imaterial da Humanidade pela Organização das Nações Unidas para a Educação, a Ciência e a Cultura (UNESCO) em 2011, o fado é considerado como o principal símbolo musical de Portugal, presente na vida quotidiana social e cultural de muitos portugueses, tendo superado fronteiras geográficas, sociais, culturais, políticas e econômicas. Considera-se neste trabalho a importância do Império Português e de suas colônias, como Moçambique, Angola, Brasil e Goa, como contributos para o início do processo da disseminação do fado pelo mundo, levando para os territórios ultramarinos fragmentos da cultura portuguesa a partir do século XV, bem como o desenvolvimento do capitalismo e a fluidificação das fronteiras que, através da mídia, globalizaram o fado, mundializando-o, e catalisando nele o processo de mestiçagem entre as músicas das mais diferentes classificações (VALENTE, 2007:94), e, a influência dos fadistas, que com o surgimento das novas formas de comunicação possibilitaram a sua interação com outras culturas e, consequentemente, com outras canções. Destaca-se em sua trajetória a transformação de música exclusivamente consumida pelos transgressores da lei e da moral à música representativa da cultura de um país, deixando para trás as casas de má fama do século XIX e ganhando espaço pelos palcos do mundo no século XXI. A indústria fonográfica e também o rádio constituem ferramentas que colaboraram para o desenvolvimento do fado. O objetivo desta dissertação é observar o fado na atualidade, recuperando sua história desde as origens no século XIX. Para isso identifica e localiza as diversas transformações ao longo do tempo e personagens que se destacaram durante este percurso, mostrando como as tradições são reinventadas pelas novas gerações que, em vários momentos, são responsáveis pelo zelo e, muitas vezes, pela reinvenção do fado como herança cultural. Nesta análise a globalização da cultura é considerada como um poder redefinidor do significado de uma tradição. Alguns fadistas serão os pontos de referência desta pesquisa, representativos de uma linha do tempo que se distribui em 200 anos de história. As letras de fado percorrerão esta pesquisa com o intuito de ilustrar os pontos abordados. Como pesquisa cartográfica apoiada no modelo dos rizomas proposto por Gilles Deleuze e Félix Guattari (2000), pretende-se analisar a história contemporânea do fado, tendo como marco temporal a Revolução dos Cravos decorrida em 25 de abril de 1974.

Rio - Paris: primórdios da publicação da Literatura Brasileira chez Garnier

This article brings to light the latest research on the activities of Baptiste-Louis Garnier, French bookseller and publisher established in Rio de Janeiro, in his relations with the French publishing world: methods, procedures, books, authors and publishers. Cultural exchanges between these two systems helped to consolidate the canon of authors and works of Brazilian Literature in the nineteenth century. The study of these relationships can give full account of some information scholars have provided us and contributes to a better understanding of the process of production and circulation of literary works in Brazil.

The ongoing significance of national media systems in the context of media globalization

This article argues that the concept of national media systems, and the comparative study of media systems, institutions, and practices, retains relevance in an era of media globalization and technological convergence. It considers various critiques of ‘media systems’ theories, such as those which view the concept of ‘system’ as a legacy of an outdated positivism and those which argue that the media globalization is weakening the relevance of nation-states in structuring the field of media cultures and practices. It argues for the continuing centrality of nation-states to media processes, and the ongoing significance of the national space in an age of media globalization, with reference to case studies of Internet policies in China, Brazil, and Australia. These studies indicate that nation-states remain critical actors in media governance and that domestic actors largely shape the central dynamics of media policies, even where media technologies and platforms enable global flows of media content.

Globalization and basketball in China: governance, market and culture

Chinese sports are developing under very complex and unique political, economic, and cultural circumstances in the global age. This study aims to investigate the process of globalization in basketball through an examination of its multidimensional manifestations. The study aligns itself with Ritzer’s (2003, 2007b) conceptualization of dichotomizing the process of globalization into grobalization and glocalization. On that basis, the trajectory of basketball globalization in China is identified as the result of a contextual and competing interplay between the penetration of the NBA and the consequent engagement of Chinese basketball. A qualitative methodological approach was conducted to achieve the research aim. Data were collected from a number of sources, including official documents and semi-structured interviews with relevant basketball participants. The study reveals that globalization and basketball in China, in the political and institutional dimension, is a conflicting process. The universalization of the NBA’s governance model could not be fully assimilated due to the centralization of power in the Chinese government, which is hindering the further professionalization and marketization of basketball. In the economic dimension, the globalization process is seen to interplay with the local basketball market, which is growing thanks to the adaption of the NBA’s marketing strategies. In the cultural dimension, the study demonstrates that the NBA has to some extent cosmopolitanized and consumerized Chinese basketball culture, while resistance from both the state and the Chinese people has risen, creolizing the globalization of basketball culture in China.

Globalization and loss of autonomy by the fiscal, banking and monetary authorities

Includes bibliography

Project culture in the Chinese construction industry : perceptions of contractors

In recent years culture has become one of the most studied topics in project management research. Some studies have investigated the influence of culture at different levels – such as national culture, industry culture, organisational culture and professional culture. As a project-based industry, the construction industry needs to have more insight concerning cultural issues at the project level and their influence on the performance of construction projects. Few studies, however, have focused on culture at the project level. This paper uses a questionnaire survey to determine the perceptions of Chinese contractors about the impact of project culture on the performance of local construction projects. This is augmented by a series of in-depth interviews with senior executive managers in the industry. The findings indicate that specific project culture does contribute significantly towards project outcomes. In particular, goal orientation and flexibility, as two dimensions of project culture, have a negative statistical correlation with perceived satisfaction of the process, commercial success, future business opportunities, lessons learnt from the project, satisfaction with the relationships, and overall performance. This paper also indicates that the affordability of developing an appropriate project culture is a major concern for industry practitioners.

The influence of national culture on communication practices : a case study on Malaysian organisation

National culture is deeply rooted in values, which are learned and acquired when we are young (2007, p. 6), and „embedded deeply in everyday life. (Newman & Nollen, 1996, p. 754). Values have helped to shape us into who we are today. In other words, as we grow older, the cultural values we have learned and adapted to will mould our daily practices. This is reflected in our actions, behaviours, and the ways in which we communicate. Based on the previous assertion, it can be suggested that national culture may also influence organisational culture, as our „behaviour at work is a continuation of behaviour learned earlier. (Hofstede, 1991, p. 4). Cultural influence in an organisation could be evidenced by looking at communication practices: how employees interact with one another as they communicate in their daily practices. Earlier studies in organisational communication see communication as the heart of an organisation in which it serves, and as „the essence of organised activity and the basic process out of which all other functions derive. (Bavelas and Barret, cited in Redding, 1985, p. 7). Hence, understanding how culture influences communication will help with understanding organisational behaviour. This study was conducted to look at how culture values, which are referred to as culture dimensions in this thesis, influenced communication practices in an organisation that was going through a change process. A single case study was held in a Malaysian organisation, to investigate how Malaysian culture dimensions of respect, collectivism, and harmony were evidenced in the communication practices. Data was collected from twelve semi-structured interviews and five observation sessions. Guided by six attributes identified in the literature, (1) acknowledging seniority, knowledge and experience, 2) saving face, 3) showing loyalty to organisation and leaders, 4) demonstrating cohesiveness among members, 5) prioritising group interests over personal interests, and 6) avoiding confrontations of Malaysian culture dimensions, this study found eighteen communication practices performed by employees of the organisation. This research contributes to the previous cultural work, especially in the Malaysian context, in which evidence of Malaysian culture dimensions of respect, collectivism, and harmony were displayed in communication practices: 1) acknowledging the status quo, 2) obeying orders and directions, 3) name dropping, 4) keeping silent, 5) avoiding questioning, 6) having separate conversations, 7) adding, not criticising, 8) sugar coating, 9) instilling a sense of belonging, 10) taking sides, 11) cooperating, 12) sacrificing personal interest, 13) protecting identity, 14) negotiating, 15) saying „yes. instead of „no., 16) giving politically correct answers, 17) apologising, and 18) tolerating errors. Insights from this finding will help us to understand the organisational challenges that rely on communication, such as during organisational change. Therefore, data findings will be relevant to practitioners to understand the impact of culture on communication practices across countries.

Perceptions of aging across 26 cultures and their culture-level associates

College students (N = 3,435) in 26 cultures reported their perceptions of age-related changes in physical, cognitive, and socioemotional areas of functioning and rated societal views of aging within their culture. There was widespread cross-cultural consensus regarding the expected direction of aging trajectories with (1) perceived declines in societal views of aging, physical attractiveness, the ability to perform everyday tasks, and new learning, (2) perceived increases in wisdom, knowledge, and received respect, and (3) perceived stability in family authority and life satisfaction. Cross-cultural variations in aging perceptions were associated with culture-level indicators of population aging, education levels, values, and national character stereotypes. These associations were stronger for societal views on aging and perceptions of socioemotional changes than for perceptions of physical and cognitive changes. A consideration of culture-level variables also suggested that previously reported differences in aging perceptions between Asian and Western countries may be related to differences in population structure.

Safety leaders' perceptions of safety culture in a large Australian construction organisation

Safety culture in the construction industry is a growing research area. The unique nature of construction industry works – being project-based, varying in size and focus, and relying on a highly transient subcontractor workforce – means that safety culture initiatives cannot be easily translated from other industries. This paper reports on the first study in a three year collaborative industry and university research project focusing on safety culture practices and development in one of Australia’s largest global construction organisations. The first round of a modified Delphi method is reported, and describes the insights gained from 41 safety leaders’ perceptions and understandings of safety culture within the organisation. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted, and will be followed by a quantitative perception survey with the same sample. Participants included Senior Executives, Corporate Managers, Project Managers, Safety Managers and Site Supervisors. Leaders’ definitions and descriptions of safety culture were primarily action-oriented and some confusion was evident due to the sometimes implicit nature of culture in organisations. Leadership was identified as a key factor for positive safety culture in the organisation, and there was an emphasis on leaders demonstrating commitment to safety, and being visible to the project-based workforce. Barriers to safety culture improvement were also identified, with managers raising diverse issues such as the transient subcontractor workforce and the challenge of maintaining safety as a priority in the absence of safety incidents, under high production pressures. This research is unique in that it derived safety culture descriptions from key stakeholders within the organisation, as opposed to imposing traditional conceptualisations of safety culture that are not customised for the organisation or the construction industry more broadly. This study forms the foundation for integrating safety culture theory and practice in the construction industry, and will be extended upon in future studies within the research program.

Shanghai : images of modernity

This chapter profiles China's biggest city and economic powerhouse, Shanghai. The authors examine the city’s use of culture to position itself as a global city and how a particular narrative of the city has informed western commentators and Shanghai policy makers. They also analyze the development of an arts and cultural infrastructure and the parallel separation of art and entertainment, with contemporary art as an unexpected challenge, but one the city successfully negotiated. They looks at the marketisation of culture and the context in which this takes place, tracing the connections between market reforms in culture and those in the wider economy. The authors are convinced that the half-formed or distorted use of western concepts like creative industries or creative clusters, rather than indicating a duplicity or an incomplete modernity actually highlight some of the complicities of canonical cultural policy.

Achieving supply chain sustainability : the role of relationship management, culture and procurement form

In this research we examined, by means of case studies, the mechanisms by which relationships can be managed and by which communication and cooperation can be enhanced in developing sustainable supply chains. The research was predicated on the contention that the development of a sustainable supply chain depends, in part, on the transfer of knowledge and capabilities from the larger players in the supply chain. A sustainable supply chain requires proactive relationship management and the development of an appropriate organisational culture, and trust. By legitimising individuals’ expectations of the type of culture which is appropriate to their company and empowering employees to address mismatches that may occur, a situation can be created whereby the collaborating organisations develop their competences symbiotically and so facilitate a sustainable supply chain. Effective supply chain management enhances organisation performance and competitiveness through the management of operations across organisational boundaries. Relational contracting approaches facilitate the exchange of information and knowledge and build capacity in the supply chain, thus enhancing its sustainability. Relationship management also provides the conditions necessary for the development of collaborative and cooperative relationships However, often subcontractors and suppliers are not empowered to attend project meetings or to have direct communication with project based staff. With this being a common phenomenon in the construction industry, one might ask: what are the barriers to implementation of relationship management through the supply chain? In other words, the problem addressed in this research is the engagement of the supply chain through relationship management.