Problems of translating English popular science texts into Russian:
lexical and stylistic aspect / Проблемы перевода английских научно-
популярных текстов на русский язык: лексико-стилистический
аспект
Introduction 5
Chapter 1. Theoretical framework: issues in translation of popular science texts 7
1.1. The concept of functional style in modern linguistics 7
1.1.1. The definition of functional styles 7
1.1.2. Functional style and register 10
1.1.3. The classification of functional styles 13
1.2. Lexical and stylistic features of popular science texts 17
1.2.1. General characteristics and functions of popular science texts 17
1.2.2. Lexical features of popular science texts 20
1.2.3. Stylistic features of popular science texts 24
1.3. The concept of translation shifts in translation studies 27
1.3.1. The definition of translation shifts 27
1.3.2. Different approaches to the concept of translation shifts 31
1.3.3. Classifications of translation shifts 33
Conclusions for chapter 1 38
Chapter 2. Analysis of translation of English popular science texts into Russian.. ..40
2.1. Lexical and stylistic features of popular science texts and lexical translation
shifts 40
2.1.1. Contextual lexical shifts 40
2.1.2. Concretization 43
2.1.3. Generalization 46
2.1.4. Transcription 49
2.1.5. Tracing 53
2.1.6. Addition 56
2.1.7. Omission 59
2.2. Lexical and stylistic features of popular science texts and complex translation shifts 64
2.2.1. Modulation 64
2.2.2. Explicitation 69
2.3. Stylistic features of popular science texts and translation shifts 74
2.3.1. Translation of linguistic means inherent in colloquial style 74
2.3.2. Translation of trite metaphors 77
2.3.3. Translation of stylistic devices 80
Conclusions for chapter 2 87
Conclusion 89
References 91
The research paper focuses on lexical and stylistic problems of translating English popular science texts into Russian.
Due to the active process of globalization, knowledge and discoveries are integrated, which necessitates a successful exchange of information. One of the means of such an exchange is popular science texts. Accordingly, in the modern world there is a need for proper translation of popular science texts. The research has been conducted within the framework of modern translation studies and comparative stylistics, which is a relevant line of research. The novelty of the research is represented by a thorough analysis of lexical and stylistic aspects of translating English popular science texts about art into Russian, which will complement translation studies with new findings.
The goal of the study is to identify lexical and stylistic features of translation of English popular science texts into Russian.
The achievement of the goal involves the following objectives:
• to study different approaches to defining the concept of the functional style and devise a working definition of the functional style;
• to define the concept of the popular science substyle and its relevant lexical and stylistic features;
• to define the concept and to study the types of translation shifts used in translations of popular science texts;
• to identify which translation shifts are used to translate lexical items that pose a translation problem;
• to identify which translation shifts are used to translate stylistic devices used in popular science texts.
The object of the research is lexical and stylistic features of English popular science texts and their translations into Russian.
The subject of the research is translation shifts that are used to render lexical and stylistic features of the original English popular science texts into Russian.
The theoretical significance of the work stems from its contribution to general and specific theory of translation.
The practical significance is related to the fact that the research findings may be used to develop guidelines for translators and for translator training courses.
The material for the study is English texts of the popular science substyle devoted to art. In the course of the research, 227 English and 227 Russian examples were analyzed.
The structure of the work is determined by the goal and objectives described above. The work consists of an introduction, two chapters, conclusion, and a list of references.
The research has revealed a number of lexical and stylistic problems in translating popular science texts and has identified possible solutions.
The theoretical chapter analyses different approaches to the concept of functional style. It has been established that the terms register and functional style are synonymous in the English and Russian traditions. In this work, we stick to the term functional style. The working definition of the term goes as follows: functional style is a subsystem of language that possesses specific lexical, syntactical, sometimes phonetic features characteristic of a particular sphere of communication.
It has been identified that popular science texts represent a substyle of the scientific functional style. The following definition of popular science substyle has been devised: popular science substyle is one of the types of scientific style, the texts of which are aimed at a wide audience and perform the function of not only transmitting cognitive information, but also the function of entertaining readers. The research describes the relevant lexical and stylistic features of such texts: the use of abstract nouns, terminology and lexis inherent in a certain communication field, the use of idiomatic expressions and words with figurative meaning, logical narration, the use of colloquialisms, trite metaphors, and various stylistic devices.
Within the framework of the research the terms translation shifts, operations, procedures and techniques are treated as synonymous. The working definition of the term translation shift goes as follows: translation shifts represent a certain relationship between the source and target language units. The proposed classification of translation shifts includes lexical, grammatical and complex shifts.
The comparative analysis of the source and target texts has allowed to point out shifts that are commonly employed to preserve certain lexical and stylistic features of the source text. The shifts that perform this function are: contextual lexical shifts, concretization, generalization, transcription, tracing, addition, omission, modulation, explicitation, and compensation.
It has also been found that the transference of such stylistic features as the use of linguistic means of colloquial style, trite and extended metaphors, pun, and genuine epithets presents a problem in the translation of popular science texts. The problem is usually overcome by employing different translation shifts in combination.
The analysis has shown that shifts that are aimed at clarifying the original information, namely addition, explicitation and contextual lexical shift, are the most common and relevant for the translation of texts of popular science substyle.
Thus, despite the translation problems that occur during the translation of popular science texts, leading lexical and translation features of the substyle are transferred to the target texts with the help of various translation shifts.
The conducted research has contributed to the fulfilling of the goal and objectives of the work. Lexical and stylistic aspect of the problems of translating English popular science texts into Russian has been studied and lexical and stylistic features of the translation have been identified.
