LINGUISTIC AND MENTAL ASPECTS OF THE TRANSLATION OF OFFICIAL TEXTS (BASED ON THE OFFICIAL DOCUMENTS OF PRESS SERVICES AND NEWS PORTALS)

Abstract

Background. The translation process is to be considered not merely as a cross- language, but as a cross-cultural interaction as well, since two language systems and two cultures operate simultaneously. The translator’s mission is to adequately transfer the source code of information into the translation language and adapt the national and cultural features of the original text. This involves mental processing of the underlying message implications and presuppositions. Strategies and methods of translation of official documents are determined not only by their linguistic characteristics, but also by their national-specific features. The above-mentioned aspects contribute to the background of the study. Purpose. The article deals with the analysis of the lexical and syntactic features of the translation of official business texts through the prism of the national cultural code, as well as reveals the influence of mental features of various linguistic and cultural communities on the linguistic, structural and style-forming characteristics of business texts. Materials and methods. The empiric material for the study is represented by 70 official documents of international organizations in English (UNESCO, The Minsk Declaration, U.S. Mission Russia, etc.) and their corresponding Russian translations. The documents are published in an open access on the Internet on the official websites of press services and news portals. In the course of analyzing the sources of actual material, general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, cognitive analysis, and content analysis were used. Results. The results of the study proved that the national-cultural specificity has a direct impact on the linguistic, structural and style-forming characteristics of official business texts. To ensure the adequacy of a translation in the recipient language, cognitive processing of the source code through the prism of the semantic space of the translator’s culture is required. Recurrent methods of translating of official documents are the techniques of generalization, specification, addition, zero translation and integration. Conclusion. Official business texts are marked by certain functional characteristics that must be taken into consideration in the process of translation to ensure its adequacy and communicative effect.

Keywords

• official business texts
• translation techniques
• cultural features
• mentality