Domestic – Foreign – Intercultural: Pragmatics of Translation (On the Material of the Texts Devoted S. Diaghilev’s Artworks)

Abstract

The article deals with the linguistic representation of the linguoculturological triad “domestic – foreign – intercultural” as part of the theory of reflective and translation turns developed by D. Bachmann-Medick. Globalization has transformed the principle of binary categorization and mapped out the possibility of their synthesis and formation of a third space of communication. The purpose of the study is to analyze and describe translation strategies and techniques used for the transfer of intercultural meanings that create a third space in the perception of the global recipientt, where neither basic, nor adaptive culture markers are preserved. The empirical basis of the study is represented with the original and translated texts of international artistic festivals, memoirs of Russian and foreign artists, as well as the verbal content of news online platforms dedicated to the 150 th birth anniversary of S.P. Diaghilev. As a result of the analysis, three key strategies for the translation of linguistic-and-cultural units have been identified: domestication, foreignization and intercultural mediation. They are interchangeably used in the process of translating the Russian texts under consideration. However, owing to the communicative task of original texts – to convey the specifics of Russian culture and include national art in the world cultural fund, the strategy of intercultural mediation is the most frequently used one. This strategy is implemented through the use of Gallicisms in translated English and German texts, international vocabulary, and elimination of national and cultural specifics. It has been shown that a translator’s individual style is imposed on the systemic and cultural specifics of natural languages.

Keywords

• translation
• translation strategy
• translation technique
• domestication
• foreignization
• intercultural mediation