Reconceiving Translation: Homi Bhabha's Hybridity and the Third Space in Literary Translation

Abstract

This conceptual paper critiques the overgeneralized adoption of hybridity in translation studies, exposing its theoretical circularity, lack of actionable strategies and weak methodological grounding. Although hybridity is often conceptualized as a means of cultural negotiation, its translation-specific application remains underdeveloped. Bhabha’s “third space” metaphor is frequently cited but without translating it into actionable strategies, with existing applications being viewed either as too niche or essentializing cultural binaries. Therefore, the ethical dilemma of striking a balance between source text authenticity and target text accessibility remains unresolved, with actual translation decisions often oscillating between two extremes, either reinforcing or subverting hegemonic structures. To close this gap, this research proposes a dynamic hybrid model which puts practical strategies into action to overcome theoretical limitations of hybridity. The model draws on Joseph Malone’s practical strategies to combine foreignization and domestication in a dynamic framework which enables translators to maintain essential cultural elements while achieving clarity. The model presents a practical hybrid approach to literary translation, one that maintains a balanced harmony between faithfulness and accessibility.