Issue 4(27) 2013

Annotations and key words. Issue 4 (27) 2013.

I.   Theory and Practice of Translating Belles-Lettres and Academic Texts

 

Kolker, Jacob, Ph.D., Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Context as the Main Criterion of Adequate Belles-Lettres Translation

 

Poetry does not lend itself easily to translation. The author of the article assumes that a verse should be translated as a sum of contextual meanings. The translator is free to avoid the line-by-line retelling of the text as long as he/she keeps the purpose of the original intact. An in-depth analysis of the translation of Tarkovsky’s and Yesenin’s verses illustrates the author’s idea. In one case, the idea is made more vivid when the compari- son is amplified by the translation of Yesenin’s «Мы теперь уходим понемногу» done by Peter Tempest, a famous British translator of Russian verses.

translation of poetry, inner context, tone, imagery, precision

 

Kuznetzova, Tatiana, Ph.D., Professor

(North /Artctic/ Federal University, Arkhangelsk, Russia)

 

1. Lomonosov’s Latin Translations and Their Impact on Academic Style

 

The article deals with two directions of translation: towards the source culture and the target culture. There are two aspects of translation: a cognitive aspect and a cultural one. The former considers the impact of national consciousness on awareness of reality and, thence, on the language formation. The latter describes the artifacts. Forming his academic style, Mikhail Lomonosov had to overcome two controversial tenden- cies – that of following the source culture (and, therefore, imitating Latin syntax) and that of adapting scientific discourse to the target culture by adjusting to the language level of the recipient whose culture did not yet have a standard literary language.

cross-cultural communication, translation, culture, consciousness, cultural aspect, communicative struc- ture of the sentence, word order, term

 

Matveeva, Natalia, Ph.D., Associate Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Comparative Analysis of Imagery in Ya. Smelyakov’s and W.H. Auden’s Poetry and Challenges of Rendering it in Translation

 

The article undertakes a comparative study of peculiar ways of creating imagery in the poems by Ya. Smelyakov and W.H. Auden. The study is fulfilled in the context of similarity of poetic themes and differences of poetic approaches as well as in terms of pre-translation analysis, which, among other things, focuses on the poets’ use of lexical and stylistic means. The author analyses extracts from the poems “Katyusha” and “Chamber Challenge”(«Камерная полемика») by Ya. Smelyakov and “Funeral Blues” and “Nothing is given: we must find our law” by W.H. Auden, and gives her own translation of the excerpts analysed.

poetry, image, metaphor, words with deep image-bearing semantics, stylistic connotations, existentialism, inequality

Pursglove, David Michael, M.Phil.(Oxon.), translator (Reading, Berkshire, Great Britain)

From Galitzine to Gallenzi: on translations of Turgenev’s Дым

 

The article surveys the history of the relatively few translations of Turgenev’s Dym into English, a process which began with the first translation of the novel (into French) by A.M. Galitzine (Golitsyn). Taking a passage from Chapter 2 of the novel, the author compares Galitzine’s approach with that employed by himself in his own translation of the novel, published by Alessandro Gallenzi. Twelve specific translational challenges are highlighted, some specific to Turgenev (his Gallicisms; his Anglicisms), others to nineteenth century Russian literary texts in general (realia; rendition of personal names). The question of whether a translator should ever seek to “correct” or “improve upon” the original is also discussed.

Turgenev, “Smoke”, translation problems, connotation, interpretation, realia, foreignism, stylistic register

 

II.  Approaches to Belles-Lettres Discourse Analysis

 

Zolyan, Suren, Ph.D., Professor

(Institute of Philosophy, Academy of Sciences, Yerevan, Armenia, Institute of Humanitarian Studies, MSHU, Moscow, Russia)

”Magical Cohesion”: the Organization of the Plot in Borges’s Stories

 

In this article we consider the semantic organization of the plot in Borges’s stories. We use and try to de- velop the conception of ”Magical Cohesion”, which was suggested by Borges himself under of influence of G. Frazer. In this case the dynamics of the plot is determined not only by causal interrelations between events, as it happens usually, but also – and above all – by modal and temporal interrelations of transworld accessibility. Borgesian plot is organised as semiotic operations of tracing the characters within the same situation through different possible worlds – instead of observing them in the linear concatenation of different situations.

semantics of the plot, semantics of possible worlds, ”magic connectivity”, Borges, O. Freudenberg

 

Loginova, Elena, Ph.D., Associate Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Bringing Orderliness through Analogy – the Basic Function of Fractal as an Instrument of Sorting Out Experience

 

Using mathematics as a basis for research, the author approaches linguistic, lingua-cognitive and lin- gua-pragmatic types of discourse analysis as a step-by-step procedure based on fractal modeling. The fractal modeling integrating the holistic and holographic methods has proved to be one of the most effective ways of bringing orderliness into the process of gaining linguistic and extralinguistic experience. The fractal (first described by B. Mandelbrot to explain the complex nature of the phenomena essential for world cognition) can explain both the visible and the subterranean processes in discourse development. Ensuring unity between part and whole, chaos and order, the fractal brings orderliness through analogy which can be characterized as a universal means of sorting out linguistic and extralinguistic experience.

cognition, experience, order, analogy, fractal, discourse, sign

Maryanovskaya, Elena, Ph.D., Associate Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Literary Discourse Viewed as a Unity of Form and Content

 

The article focuses on complex and flexible relations between form and content of literary discourse. Though form and content are treated as a unity, there are cases when they may be analyzed as separate compo- nents. Sometimes form and content may adopt each other’s functions. If form prevails, it starts to develop and to interpret content, thus becoming the focus of readers’ attention. The analytical-synthetic approach adopted by the author makes it possible to find the ways of preserving complex interaction between from and content in translation.

interaction of form and content, rhetoric analysis suggested by L. Vygotsky, analytical-synthetic approach, pre-translation analysis, rhythm, pausation, impressionistic manner of writing, K. Mansfield, “Bliss”

 

III.   Discourse Strategies of Public and Business Communication

 

Stepanov, Valentin, Ph.D., Professor, Zarina, Helene, Senior Lecturer (MUBiNT, Yaroslavl, Russia)

Inridiopathy as a Media Strategy of Public Communication: What Are You Laughing for?

 

The article is dedicated to a contemporary, if not absolutely new, phenomenon reflecting present-day conditions of media culture and consciousness of its bearers. It also determines the basic principles of interactive communications via blogs, forums and other social media. The authors have suggested the term “inridiopathy” to describe this phenomenon. The paper formulates the principles and functions of inridiopathy and provides a number of multi-code texts to illustrate these principles and functions.

inridiopathy, media culture, media strategy, humour, intellectualism, provoking, demotivation

 

Sheina, Irina, Ph.D., Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A.Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Discourse Model for Business Letters

 

The article explores linguistic conceptualization as a process and as the result of arranging mental structures and language units to impose order on the information transmitted in discourse. Concepts, frames and categories are treated as units of linguistic conceptualization, whereas categorization, propositions and universal conceptual networks are viewed as its means. The article describes a discourse model for the genre of business letters as a tool that gives a researcher an opportunity to establish interrelationship and interdependence between the components of the communicative situation, functioning of units and means of linguistic conceptualization and choice and arrangement of lexical, syntactic and pragmatic means of language. The article also reveals the role of discourse strategies and tactics in the process of verbalizing concepts, frames and categories.

discourse, genre, linguistic conceptualization, concept, frame, category, proposition, universal conceptual network

IV. . Linguodidactic Pre-Requisites of Teaching Translation as a major

 

Peskova, Natalia, Ph.D., Associate Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Semantic Modulation and Semantic Derivation in the Course of the Development of the Preposition System in English (Linguistic and Language-Teaching Perspectives)

 

The article is devoted to problems of prepositional development. It examines the processes of semantic modulation and semantic derivation that trigger off not only changes of prepositional semantics, but also restructuring of the preposition system on the whole.

prepositional semantics, diachronic change, development of meaning, semantic modulation, semantic derivation

 

Ustinova, Elena, Ph.D., Associate Professor

(Ryazan State University named for S.A. Esenin, Ryazan, Russia)

 

Convergence of Educational Goals in the Structure of a Task: Integration of Language Skills and Intellectual Development

 

The paper examines possibilities of integrating several challenges within one language-learning task in a tertiary language classroom. The author assumes that a language task may simultaneously target several purposes: enhance language skills, develop student’s logical reasoning, enrich their background knowledge and linguistic worldview, – with the task remaining doable for the students. The paper suggests a list of criteria for a tentative typology of integrated tasks, and focuses on that of practice vs. cognition. In practice-focused tasks, integration of goals can be described as a “centripetal” process, – that is, convergence of two or more simultaneous challenges. Cognition-focused tasks are described as “centrifugal”, with the nuclear component launching ever-widening spirals of intertextual and multi-code associations. Cognitive tasks aim at raising student awareness of each fragment of the language world picture as part of the overall linguistic and cultural experience.

convergence of goals, integration, motivation, cognitive activity, linguistic worldview

 

V. Confucius Institute: Studies in Cultural Linguistics and Language Teaching Methodology

 

Lin Haiyan, Senior Lecturer

(College of Humanities, Changchun University, Changchun, China)

 

Reflection of National Mentality in the Chinese Language

 

The article examines the connection between language and mentality and analyses differences between languages caused by peculiarities of the national character. The author dwells upon the philosophical concepts of the “golden mien” and “unity”, as well as the traditional idea of male superiority, so typical of Chinese culture. The national factor and its impact upon the language are analysed in the context of multiculturalism. The study undertaken by the author contributes to a comprehensive vision of culture-bound peculiarities of the language system and is meant to facilitate the process of the Chinese language studies at universities.

philosophical concept, the “golden mien”, unity, male superiority

Wu Liru, lecturer

(Foreign Language College, Changchun University, China)

 

Translation of Russian Puns into Chinese

 

The paper examines pun as a linguistic phenomenon and describes the linguistic and culture-focused challenges a translator encounters when dealing with different sources of puns (polysemantic effect, full homonyms, homographs, homophones, heteronyms with different stresses, and similar-sounding words with different meanings).

Due to the great difference between the two languages and cultures, the task of rendering Russian puns in Chinese is extremely difficult. Three common translation methods discussed and illustrated in the article are: equivalent translation, free translation, and adequate translation.

pun, translation: equivalent, free, adequate

 

Zheng Yongkui, Ph.D., professor (Changchun University, Changchun, China)

Confucius and His Philosophy

 

Confucius, Mohammed, Jesus and Buddha are called “the four saints of world culture”. Confucius’s name is on the UNESCO list of world legacy. As many as seventy-two Nobel prize winners have suggested that the world community should follow the teaching of Confucius in order to survive in the 21st century. The paper highlights the main principles of Confucian philosophy and its impact on the development of contemporary society.

Confucius, Confucianism, concept

 

Shan, Nina, Associate Professor (Changchun University, Changchun, China)

Teaching Listening to Chinese Students of Russian:

The Impact of the Mother Tongue on the System of Exercises

 

The paper discusses the specific challenges Chinese students experience when learning to understand oral Russian speech. The author suggests a number of teaching strategies aimed at overcoming phonetic, lexical, and grammatical challenges of aural comprehension. These often overlap: thus, mistakes in identifying syntactical or morphological form may be caused by pronunciation habits in Chinese. Though the paper chiefly focuses on specific language challenges, every listening task should provide a meaningful context and have a purpose beyond language itself. Types of exercises can be relatively universal, but the language units (and, therefore, communicative situations) largely depend on the divergences between the system of the foreign language and that of the learners’ mother tongue.

aural comprehension, phonetic, grammatical, lexical skills, Russian as a foreign language, Chinese as the mother tongue, typical mistakes