Meme Theory in Translation

Meme theory was first proposed by Richard Dawkins, a professor at Oxford University, in his book *The Selfish Gene* (1976). It refers to the cognitive or behavioral patterns transmitted from one individual (human or animal) to another, serving as replicators of cultural transmission within human society. In biology, organisms rely on heredity and evolution to propagate their genetic material. Similarly, culture requires inheritance and advancement, and translation plays a significant role in the process of meme transmission. The translation process can be viewed as the dissemination of foreign cultural memes through language into one's own culture. Here, the source text functions as a carrier, encapsulating core memes (ideas and concepts) and cultural memes (various memes from the source culture). The translator decodes and encodes the original work, replacing the source memes with new carriers in the target language, thereby facilitating their transmission.

Therefore, the ideal translation aims to achieve the simultaneous transmission of the author's core memes and the cultural memes of the original work. This means not only replicating the author's central ideas but also producing a similar effect on the target language readers in terms of language, culture, and style.

The domestication strategy focuses on replicating the core memes of the source language, often substituting them with similar memes from the target culture. For instance, early translations of Buddhist texts in China extensively referenced Daoist terminology, which allowed the core meme of the Buddhist idea—escapism—to be successfully conveyed; however, this resulted in the abandonment of the source culture’s memes. Thus, while the advantage of domestication lies in replicating the core genes of the source language, it struggles to achieve self-replication and dissemination of cultural memes, leading to a cultural stagnation. Therefore, exoticization is gradually becoming the main trend in meme transmission. 

Exotic translation emphasizes the joint replication of both the core memes and cultural memes of the source language. This approach not only enriches the linguistic expression of the target language but also promotes cultural diversity. For example, when translating “ace up your sleeve,” which refers to a hidden advantage in Western card games, if we were to domesticate it as “锦囊妙计” (a clever plan sealed in a bag), it could potentially lead to misunderstanding due to cultural differences in context. Instead, an exotic translation like “袖中王牌” manages to replicate both the core and cultural memes effectively.

In summary, domestication translates into a stagnant internal loop of cultural memes under the framework of the source language's core memes, much like a pool of stagnant water. Domestication fails to bring foreign culture “inside” or to push local culture “outside.” In contrast, exotic translation achieves the joint replication of both the core memes and cultural memes of the source language, which can promote the dissemination of the former, effectively injecting new vitality into a nation’s culture and serving as a powerful engine for cultural transformation and upgrading.

◀️：Notes on Translating French Contracts into English

▶️：A Brief Analysis of Katharina Reiss's Text Type Theory