The Specificity of Translation of English-Language Botanical Names into the Russian Language (Drawing on the Official Succulent Plant Names of Agavoideae Subfamily)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the specifics of translating English-language botanical names into the Russian language drawing on the example of the names of succulent plants of the Agave subfamily (Agavoideae), Agave genus. The topicality of the research is conditioned by the importance of the study of names of house plants (in particular, belonging to the Agave subfamily) due to their growing popularity and demand. A selection of the English- and Russian-language terminological and nomenclature units of the field of botany – species names of Agave has served as the research material, taking into account their etymology (origin), with a total volume of more than 640 units (270 units in the English language and more than 370 corresponding translation variants) selected by the continuous selection method from various electronic and printed sources, including dictionaries and glossaries, monographs, web portals on botanical topics. It is alleged that from more than 300 species of Agave described, but currently scientists have officially recognized only about 200 species, while their names require unification and standardization. In the course of work, a thematic classification of terms and nomens in the modern English and Russian languages has been conducted highlighting the key aspects of the nomination process and four thematic groups based on them, as well as a comparative analysis has been carried out determining the specifics of the translation of the selected terms and nomens from English into Russian. The methods of research of the English- and Russian-language terminological and nomenclature units of the botanical sphere include the method of continuous selection method, methods of component and definitional analysis, the method of etymological analysis, as well as methods of quantitative estimation. Within the framework of the work, it has been revealed that for 270 selected terminological and nomenclature units, there are 144 terminological elements of Latin origin, 47 term elements of Greek origin, units of Spanish, Portuguese and English origin are less represented; 74 terminological elements-proper names – surnames of famous botanists and discoverers, 50 terminological elements-proper names – geographical names; 11 terminological elements – local folk names of plants. It has been determined that two terminological elements of the same language are most often combined (Lat. + Lat. / Greek + Greek), there are only a few cases of a combination of terminological elements of Greek and Latin origin. Transcoding (transliteration and/or transcription, 270 cases) is the most frequent way of translating species names of agaves as the most universal method of translation, but it cannot transmit salient features that form the basis of the nomination. Calquing (full or partial) or its combination with transcoding (86 and 93 cases, respectively) are less often used in translation process, the selection of an analogue is even less often used translation method (23 cases). There is an obvious need to standardize the names of Agave species, to develop nomination models for new house (Agave) plants.

Keywords

• botanical name
• official name
• terminological system
• nomenclature
• standardization
• nomination
• translation method
• generic term
• specific term