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2024 Vol. 15 №1

Unveiling the unseen: the challenge of phenomenological conceptual untranslatables

Abstract

This article aims to explore the significant challenges posed by phenomenological un­translatables while also emphasizing their role as cultural phenomena. Phenomenological untranslatables are typically associated with a specific cultural, historical, or social context, and their meanings are shaped by the unique experiences of the community that uses them. They encode complex elements of human perception, emotions, or phenomena that do not have direct equivalents in other languages. Yet, the absence of direct linguistic equivalents should not be misconstrued as the absence of shared human experiences. By employing a multidisci­plinary approach that encompasses linguistics, cognitive science, and cultural studies, we have conducted an analysis of the conceptual framework underlying this type of lexis and identified macro- and micro-conceptual attributes that may necessitate various verbalizations in different cultural and contextual settings.

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Transposition — retelling — translation: the destiny of Areopagitica in Slavia Orthodoxa

Abstract

The article undertakes a conceptual analysis of the challenges associated with translating works from the Corpus Areopagiticum, a collection of theological treatises attributed to Dio­nysius the Areopagite from the 1st century. However, these works are unequivocally associat­ed with early medieval Eastern Christian mystical-theological thought, presumably from the turn of the 5th—6th centuries. These texts first appeared in the Slavic Orthodox area in 1370, and subsequent translations emerged at the end of the 17th century, in the 18th and 19th centuries, and, most recently, in contemporary times. The authors introduce a set of criteria that facilitate the differentiation of the analyzed texts into distinct types of text transmission, namely transposition, retelling, and translation. These criteria are founded on factors such as the dominant translation strategy, the approach to the source language, and the textual tradi­tion. The primary research methodology involves a diachronic analysis of linguistic material, employing comparative, stylistic, and textual analysis within the theolinguistic paradigm. The hypothesis posited in the article is substantiated based on empirical evidence. Moreover, the article draws conclusions regarding the impact of general linguistic changes on the nature of translations. This includes shifts in the role and status of the Church Slavonic language, the conditions contributing to the formation of a new literary language, and the inevitable influence of broader cultural and civilizational factors. The paper also explores the tradition of translating otherness, a practice that persists in contemporary times.

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Analysis and translation of the Old English poem Instructions for Christians in the context of the Christian tradition

Abstract

An Old English poem, preserved in a copy of the 12th century, Instructions for Chris­tians, consisting of 265 lines, is considered through the prism of the explication of the theme of moral instructions in the Old English tradition. The poem, along with other Old English sermons and Christian poems, represents the suggestion of moral rules regarding early Chris­tian life, being a set of orders for believers. This article provides the author's translation of the contexts of the poem Instructions for Christians. The problem of studying the phenomenon of instructions and the representation of the indisputable position of faith in the ancient culture of the Anglo-Saxons is posed. The overall goal and objectives of the study determine the com­plex nature of the traditional methods used for philological analysis of texts and the semiotic approach to texts. The analysis of the Old English text showed the interweaving of plots of the Old and New Testaments, reflecting opposing views on poverty and wealth, sacrifices, acts of gift and exchange. Issues related to the deeds of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament Apostle Paul are highlighted in the context of the analyzed material. The work provides a list of variant addresses to God which are used in the poem, which indicates a de­veloped Christian tradition in the Old English period, and also notes the direct name of the devil, which is usually absent in the texts of this period.

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Translation of the absurdist literature as an example of cultural transfer (“Cases” by Daniil Kharms in Korean translations)

Abstract

The article explores the semiotic aspects of the theory of cultural transfer, translation, and (non)translation, with a specific focus on the translator's comment. It unravels discur­sive and interpretative concepts that illuminate the transformation of an original text into a secondary text, encompassing reception, interpretation, cultural transfer, and literary trans­lation, showcasing their interdependence and connection. The analysis centres on the literary translation of texts by Daniil Kharms, portraying it as a process where the social and aesthetic practices of both the translator and the reader manifest in the creation and perception of a secondary text. The study scrutinizes literary translation as a linguistic and creative endeav­our, illustrating the meticulous approach of the translator Kim Jung A in authentically repre­senting the author's ideology and aesthetics. Furthermore, the article, for the first time, un­veils the ways in which the aesthetics of the absurd are culturally transferred into a foreign context, specifically in the translations of stories and "cases" by Kharms into Korean. It delves into the implementation of translation transcreativity, providing concrete examples of translation solutions in the Russian-Korean language pair. The research not only analyzes the real implementation but also explores possible avenues for transferring the aesthetics of ab­surd literature in contemporary translation practices.


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Problems of transliteration and translation of Kazakh geographical names

Abstract

The article addresses the challenges associated with standardizing and unifying the spel­ling of toponyms in Kazakhstan. The authors conduct an analysis of the linguistic varia­bility of toponyms, exploring methods for their transcription into Kazakh, Russian, and Eng­lish languages. The study's findings reveal that a majority of the country's geographical names un­dergo various modifications. The authors identify and scrutinize several types of transfor­ma­tions, including transliteration, phonetic adjustments, morphological changes, lexical trans­formations, reduction (pollination), translation or calquing, reinterpretation, and rena­ming (denomination). The study establishes that these modifications adhere to general lan­guage laws and are influenced by differences in the typological characteristics of Turkic and Slavic languages. The article argues that the intensification of toponym renaming pro­cesses necessitates coordination and control by state administration bodies. This involves sys­tematic organization and standardization of geographical names. The issue of standardizing geo­graphical names in Kazakhstan is particularly pertinent, especially amid ongoing discus­sions about the country's potential shift to the Latin script.

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