Strategies and Methods in Dealing with Culture Specific Expressions on the Basis of Polish-English Translations of Certain Administrative and Institutional Terms

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the complexity of problems which can be encountered by a translator in translation of administrative terms into English. Theoretical implications of the process of translation are discussed together with a variety of methods and strategies useful in dealing with culture specific expressions. At the end critical analysis and evaluation of English equivalents of selected names of Polish government bodies and official posts are provided. _____________________________________________________________________ In the case of countries such as Poland, which do not play a major role in global economics and politics, and moreover, speak a so-called “minor language”, the role of translations cannot be overestimated. Efficient communication with the outside world determines the speed of their political, economic and social transformation. As Susan Bassnett observed, “Marginal, new, insecure or weakened culture tends to translate more text than a culture in the state of relative centrality and strength ” (1991: xii). The above statement holds true, not only with respect to the texts translated from English into Polish, but also in relation to translation from Polish into English. It is a fact (although we do not always want to admit it) that for th