Integral Translations

What is an “integral translation”?

By “integral” I mean in the “all quadrants, all levels” (AQAL) sense as defined by Ken Wilber — with the help of respected philosophers from around the world — and as shown in the matrix below.

The AQAL matrix (link takes you to MatrixIntegral.org)

So in terms of a translation, we could think of the “I” in the upper left quadrant as being what the author of a given text wants to say. The “It” of the upper right quadrant represents the text itself (i.e., what is actually said). The “We” of the lower left quadrant involves how this message is perceived by others. And the “Its” in the lower right quadrant represents the system of rules, norms, and usage that govern the way we express ourselves in any given context.

An “integral translator”, then, must take all of these aspects into account when translating a text. But not only that, the translator must also consider level, lines, and types — essentially the overall context in which the author was writing — as this contributes both to how the message should be expressed and how it will be perceived by its readers.

Only by taking all of these factors into account can a translator be sure of conveying the author’s intended message in the right way so that it is correctly received by the intended audience of the text.

For more information on Integral Theory, see Ken Wilber’s official web site or Integral Life. And if you’re in or around the Vicenza area and have an interest in Ken Wilber and his work, come meet others who share your interest:

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