Jul 2026· The International Journal of Communication and Linguistic Studies· 0 citations
Abstract
The aim of this research was to identify the features of translating culture-specific units in literary translation between the Kazakh and Chinese languages, with an emphasis on semantic and pragmatic equivalence. The study applied a linguocultural and comparative methodology, qualitative content analysis, lexical-semantic analysis, pragmatic analysis, and interpretive comparison of annotated parallel fragments. A typology of cultural connotations in Kazakh and Chinese prose was developed, including four main groups: realities, ethnospecific terms, phraseological units, and metaphors. Kazakh texts predominantly contained units related to nomadic culture, social organization, and ceremonial practices, while Chinese texts mainly reflected Confucian values, symbolic imagery, and concepts of family hierarchy. Differences in the frequency and pragmatic functions of culture-specific units were identified. The analysis of translation strategies revealed the predominance of foreignization and descriptive translation when rendering Kazakh units into Chinese, whereas domestication was more common in translations from Chinese into Kazakh. Typical semantic transformations included meaning shifts, splitting, and partial loss of meaning. Pragmatic equivalence was often achieved through cultural explanation, contextual adaptation, and the use of connotative elements. The practical significance of this research lies in the development of a classification model for analyzing cultural connotations. This model may support translation decisions aimed at preserving semantic accuracy and pragmatic relevance when conveying nationally marked units. The novelty of this article lies in its comparative linguistic and cultural analysis of Kazakh and Chinese literary discourse, proposing a typology of cultural connotations and a two-way study of translation strategies that identifies asymmetries, semantic discrepancies, and compensatory mechanisms in translation.
The aim of the study was to identify and analyze the features of translating 歇后语 (xiēhòuyǔ) into English, taking into account the structural, semantic, and pragmatic characteristics. The study examined the main categories of Chinese phraseological units, detailed the structure and functions of xiēhòuyǔ, and identified the main issues arising during the translation. The research methodology included the comparative method, which made it possible to identify differences in the structural organization and semantic interpretation of xiēhòuyǔ when translated into English. The method of contextual analysis was used to study how these expressions functioned in different discursive conditions. The contrastive analysis technique was applied to determine translation strategies and the impact on preserving the original meaning and cultural context. The results of the study showed that the translation of xiēhòuyǔ presented considerable difficulty due to the specific structure, semantic layering, and close connection with Chinese culture. The main linguistic and cultural barriers were the absence of equivalent concepts in the target language, phonetic wordplay, and cultural differences. It was established that the most common methods for rendering xiēhòuyǔ were literal translation, adaptation, explanatory translation, and retaining the original with clarification. The analysis of translation strategies demonstrated that the choice of translation method determined the degree of loss or preservation of the original meaning. The optimal approach was the combination of various strategies, allowing for consideration of both the semantic and cultural components of xiēhòuyǔ in translation.
A. Yezmakhunova, B. Mizamkhan, Raushan Jeldybayeva· The International Journal of...· 0 citations
The translation of fantasy literature presents a number of linguistic and cultural challenges due to the representation of culture-specific elements, author-created names, mythological references, and stylistically colored language units. The object of this paper is a classic work of fantasy fiction, J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings provides extensive material for investigating translation strategies and transformations. The study focuses on that the translator’s style to use lexical and grammatical transformations in translation of The Lord of the Rings considering functional equivalence. For analyzing corresponding elements of the source and target texts, comparative, descriptive, and contextual methods are applied. Transcription, transliteration, calque, modulation, concretization, generalization, transposition, and grammatical substitution are among the most frequently employed transformations. Through these transformations, the translator preserves semantic, stylistic, and cultural aspects of the original text, ensuring a high degree of functional equivalence. The study confirms that translation transformations function as essential tools for reproducing the communicative and aesthetic impact of fantasy narratives in the target language.
Bahodir Abdirasulov· Ijtimoiy-gumanitar sohada il...· 0 citations
This study demonstrates that the primary challenge in translating Indonesian literary works into Arabic lies in the cultural elements embedded in metaphors, proverbs, and local expressions. Employing a qualitative textual analysis of Hamka’s Di Bawah Lindungan Kaʿbah, the research reveals that differences in worldview between Indonesian and Arab societies influence lexical choices and stylistic expressions, making literal translation insufficient. The findings highlight the necessity for translators to grasp the cultural context of the source text to ensure comprehensive meaning transfer. The study contributes to translation studies by formulating strategies that integrate semantic and stylistic approaches, including transliteration with explanatory notes, functional equivalence in the target culture, and the preservation of social metaphors. These strategies prove effective in maintaining cultural authenticity while ensuring readability for Arabic audiences. Overall, the research reinforces the view that literary translation is an act of intercultural mediation, synthesizing linguistic, semantic, and cultural dimensions to preserve meaning, aesthetic nuance, and cultural resonance in the target language.
The article examines the peculiarities of translating English psychological terminology into Ukrainian and identifies the most effective translation methods used to ensure semantic accuracy and communicative adequacy. The relevance of the study is determined by the growing popularity of psychological literature and the need for a consistent rendering of specialized terminology in Ukrainian. The research aims to analyze the main translation techniques applied to English psychological terms and to determine their frequency and effectiveness. The corpus of the study comprised 128 terms selected from English-language professional psychology texts and their Ukrainian translations. The findings indicate that the most frequently employed techniques are variant equivalent selection (33%), calque translation (25%), and dictionary equivalents (21%). Less common methods include concretization, generalization, contextual substitution, semantic development, descriptive translation, part-of-speech substitution, and transcoding. The study demonstrates that the choice of translation method depends on a term's semantic characteristics, its degree of standardization in the target language, and its use context.
N. Tymoshchuk, U. Shostak· Scientific Journal of Poloni...· 0 citations
The translation of religious texts poses unique and intricate challenges. This is particularly more apparent when it pertains to capturing the subtle meaning by using suitable equivalence, since one lexical term has various meanings based on its particular context. This study examines the difficulties and consequences of translating these polysemous words from Arabic to English. The data of this study were collected from the Quran, where four verses that contain the terms Fitnah, Ummah, and Huda were chosen because they have different meanings. Employing a qualitative and comparative approach, the research examines the terms Fitnah, Ummah, and Huda within three prominent translations: Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), Abdullah Yusuf Ali (1934), and M.A.S. Abdel Haleem (2004). The results indicate that dependence on "formal equivalence" or literal translation frequently results in "semantic thinning," causing the theological richness and logical consistency of the original text to be diminished. In contrast, contemporary "functional" methods that emphasize contextual interpretation are better at maintaining and conveying the original message. The research finds that although no English term can entirely capture the complex essence of Quranic polysemy, employing explanatory descriptors and exegetical footnotes is crucial to avoid theological misinterpretation and provide a clearer understanding for non-Arabic speakers.
Soad Altaher, Ahmed Mohammed· Comprehensive Journal of Sci...· 0 citations
This article investigates the semantic evolution of the lexeme qatyn in Kazakh from an originally respectful designation for a married woman to a socially marked, often pejorative label. Drawing on historical dictionaries, early Kazakh texts, Old Turkic inscriptions, and contemporary media discourse, the study combines methods of historical lexicology, etymological analysis, and sociolinguistic interpretation. The analysis systematizes competing etymologies that derive qatyn from Old Turkic qatun and from internal Turkic word-formation, and relates them to cultural models of marriage, kinship, and social hierarchy. Particular attention is paid to the role of Soviet-era language policy, purism, and ideological regulation of public discourse in shifting the evaluative profile of the word, as well as to the continuing coexistence of respectful and pejorative uses in present-day Kazakh. The paper argues that the semantic degradation of qatyn is not the result of purely internal linguistic change, but reflects broader transformations in gender ideology, urbanization, and the reconfiguration of Kazakh–Russian bilingual practices. By tracing micro-level changes in collocations, phraseology, and genre distribution, the article demonstrates how a key element of the Kazakh kinship lexicon has become a site where issues of linguistic correctness, national identity, and gendered respectability are negotiated.
Sherubay Kurmanbaiuly, M. Adilov, G. Alimbek et al.· Theory and Practice in Langu...· 0 citations