CC BY-NC
1Litera
Reference:
Kazakova I.E. Translation Issues of the national cultural component (based on the material of the New Zealand territorial dialect ofthe English language ofthe Auckland region) // Litera. 2024. № 3. DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2024.3.69955 EDN: IFLVTA URL: https://eanbpubMLcomlbrary_read_article.php?id=69955
Translation Issues of the national cultural component (based on the material of the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language of the Auckland region)
Kazakova Irina Evgenievna
ORCID: 0000-0001-7838-994X
Lecturer, Department of Theory and Practice of Foreign Languages, Institute of Foreign Languages of the
Peoples' Friendship University of Russia
117198, Russia, Moskva oblasf, g. Moscow, ul. Mklukha-Maklaya, 7, of. 552
B irina_komleva@inbox.ru
Article was published in rubric "Linguistics"
DOI:
10.25136/2409-8698.2024.3.69955
EDN:
IFLVTA
Received:
24-02-2024
Abstract: This study is devoted to the lexical translation peculiarities in the context of the national and cultural identity of the English language territorial dialect within the Auckland region in New Zealand. Its relevance is due to the multifaceted interaction of nations and the intensity of their cultural exchange at the present stage, in which the issues of accurate lexical translation become critical for successful mutual understanding and communication. Accordingly, lexical units translation subtleties of the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language witihin the Auckland region are considered as the study's subject, with an emphasis on regional semantic meanings. The purpose of the current work is to identify linguistic nuances that cause difficulties in lexical elements translation to preserve the dialect's unique cultural and national features. The article is based on text-based Internet materials, single- and bilingual academic dictionaries, official documents and the data of informants. Scientific novelty is determined by a comprehensive study of the English language current lexical trends in the Auckland region in New Zealand
and an in-depth analysis of national and cultural characteristics, which should be taken into account when translating territorial linguistic phenomena. As a result of the conducted research, the uniqueness of English regional manifestation with concretization in examples is proved, which serves as a source of translation difficulties. Understanding of these vocabulary features is an essential component of a translator's cultural literacy and contributes to the accurate transmission of meaning and national cultural nuances in the translation process. Thus, the study of the lexical translation specifics in the context of the New Zealand dialect of English in the Auckland region makes a significant contribution to the field of translation studies and linguistics, warning against possible distortions and misunderstandings in the course of interaction between languages and cultures.
Keywords:
Auckland region, New Zealand dialect, national and cultural vocabulary, linguistic variability, lexical units translation, translation studies, New Zealand English, language differentiation, lexical semantics, dialectology
References
1. Arkhipova, E. I. (2017). Culture-specific concepts as bearers of cultural component. Intercultural communication: linguistic aspects: sb. materials VII international scientific-practical conf., 143-147. Novosibirsk: NGTU.
2. Bekeeva, A. R. (2016). On the issue of the study of the New Zealand national version of the English language. Professional activity: current problems of teaching and research. A collective monograph, 62-66. Tambov: Business Science-Society.
3. Vezhbitskaya, A. (2011). Semantic universals and basic concepts (Language. Semiotics. Culture). Moscow: Languages of Slavic cultures.
4. Vlakhov, S. I., & Florin, S. P. (1986). Untranslatable in translation. Moscow: Vysshaya shkola.
5. Kretov, A. A., & Fenenko, N. A. (2013). Linguistic theory of realia. In: Vestnik Voronezh state university. Linguistics and intercultural communication (pp. 7-13). Voronezh: Voronezh State University.
6. Mikheeva, N. F. (2022). Modern approaches to dialects studying. Issues of Ibero-Romanticism: materials of XI International scientific conference, 1, 228-235. Moscow: MAKS Press.
7. Grigoryeva, E. M. (2018). The main directions of the development of modern New Zealand lexicography. In: Vestnik of Kostroma state university (pp. 215-218). Kostroma: Kostroma state university.
8. Grigoryeva, E. M. (2019). Features of the toponymic system of the New Zealand version of the English language (based on the material of dictionaries of various types). The Upper Volga Philological Vestnik, 3(18), 140-146.
9. Tomakhin, G. D. (1988). Realities-Americanisms: a handbook of regional Studies. Moscow: Vysshaya shkola.
10. Tomakhin, G. D. (1980). Vocabulary with a cultural component of knowledge. Foreign languages at school, 6, 47-50.
11. Mikhalchenko, V. Yu. (Ed.) (2006). Dictionary of sociolinguistic terms. Moscow: Institute of Linguistics RAN.
12. Kazakova, T. A. (2020). Practical foundations of translation: English-Russian. St.
Petersburg: Perspektiva.
13. Svirepchuk, I. A. (2013). Features of translation from English. In: Philological sciences in Russia and abroad: proceedings of the II International Scientific conference (pp. 103-106). Saint Petersburg: Renome.
14. Komissarov, V. N. (1990). Translation theory (linguistic aspects): Textbook for institutes and faculties of foreign languages. Moscow: Vysshaya shkola.
15. Bardsley D., English language in New Zealand - Characteristics of New Zealand English. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand [Electronic resource]. Retrieved from http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/english-language-in-new-zealand/page-1
16. Te Aka Maori-English, English-Maori Dictionary [Electronic resource]. Retrieved from https ://maoridictionary.co.nz
17. Colenso, W. (2024). Maori-English Lexicon: Being a Comprehensive Dictionary of the New Zealand Tongue.
18. Ngata, H. M. (2008). English-Maori dictionary. Wellington: Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Maori/Maori Language Commission. North Shore: Raupo.
19. The Guardian. 'It's bittersweet': Parts of New Zealand's Waitakere Ranges will reopen after the ban to save the kauri tree [Electronic resource]. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/01/new-zealand-waitakere-ranges-reopen-ban-kauri-tree
20. Pratt, G. (2022). Samoan Dictionary: English and Samoan, as well as Samoan and English; with a brief grammar of the Samoan dialect. USA: Legare Street Press.
21. Fisher, J. T., & Kongaika, I. T. (2019). Longman Dictionary: Tongan To English. English To Tongan (Polynesian Languages). London: Oxford Press University.
Peer Review
Peer reviewers' evaluations remain confidential and are not disclosed to the public. Only external reviews, authorized for publication by the article's author(s), are made public. Typically, these final reviews are conducted after the manuscript's revision. Adhering to our double-blind review policy, the reviewer's identity is kept confidential. The list of publisher reviewers can be found here.
The reviewed article focuses on deciphering the problem of translation of the national cultural component based on the material of the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language of the Auckland region. The point-based version of the analysis is quite attractive, interesting, and relevant. The author of the work draws attention not to the standard of factors that should somehow be taken into account in the translation mode, but to non-trivial formations so important for the transmission of semantic facets of the text. Actually, the very beginning of the work justifies the chosen position: "the relevance of the presented topic is related to the need to conduct research in the field of language differentiation at the regional level in New Zealand due to the fact that over the past decade there has been a significant increase in migration flows, leading to an uneven territorial distribution of the population and, consequently, to the development of linguistic diversity in a multicultural community. Due to the rapidly changing linguistic situation and ethnography, the Auckland region is of the greatest interest from the point of view of linguistics, which is characterized by high social heterogeneity and a mixture of many linguistic traditions." The purpose of the peer-reviewed study is to "analyze the lexical specifics of the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language of the Auckland region, identifying difficulties associated with accurately reflecting national and cultural
characteristics in the context of translation." The fractal of tasks is compiled, their solution is consistent, constructive, and verified. It is advisable to make a reference to the research methods in the citation mode: "the following research methods were implemented in the work: comparative method, semantic analysis method, etymological analysis method, dictionary definition analysis method, contextual analysis, informant survey, questionnaire." There is no doubt about the chosen vector of studying the issue, there are no serious complaints about the direction, because the proper reference is given fully: "as a theoretical basis for the study, the scientific works of E. I. Arkhipova, A. R. Bekeeva, S. Vlakhov, A. Vezhbitskaya, E. M. Grigorieva, T. A. Kazakova, V. N. Komissarov, A. A. Kretova, V. Y. Mikhalchenko, N. F. Mikheeva, I. A. Svirepchuk, G. D. Tomakhina, N. A. Fenenko, S. Florina". The author's position is objectively stabilized by references to the works of the above-mentioned researchers, and his/her own / independent view varies precisely in this limit. The theses and judgments do not contradict the already established view: "the general language system includes a set of unique national and cultural features that manifest themselves geographically and are fixed in the regional language model with its unique exceptional features and linguistic features. It is important to emphasize here that the "whole" of the language is very malleable and flexible in responding to changes in the language situation." The work, in my opinion, is thought out, constructive, verified; the practical and theoretical significance is spelled out literally. The style of the work correlates with the actual scientific style, the formal censorship of the publication is sustained: "in other words, the emergence of national and cultural characteristics at the lexical level is a reflection of the ongoing transformations in society, which quickly take root in the language and can vary geographically. Thus, the main problem of translation is precisely the mobile functional basis of such marked vocabulary, which must be deciphered from the point of view of the national cultural code of the people and find a semantically correct equivalent." The logic of dialogue with opponents is presented in a qualitatively related form: "A. Vezhbitskaya notes that language permeates cultural coding, especially at the level of vocabulary, which is created in the collective consciousness of society and embodied through the semantics of linguistic units. As a result, national and cultural vocabulary can be interpreted as a special lexical layer inherent in a certain nation and alien to another, which reflects its history, way of life, traditions, customs and unique features." I think that the author did not strive so much for a complimentary form, as he tried to give an adequate and objective assessment of the accumulated excuses. The variant of understanding the translation, which is commented on in the course of the article, is accurate. For example, this is noticeable in the following fragments: "difficulties in translating Auckland regional specifics are primarily due to numerous toponyms that have a unique historical and geographical context and represent an equivalent vocabulary. The specificity of these linguistic units and their limited possibility of exact correspondence in the translation language lead to a loss of semantic depth and cultural connotations, therefore clarifying descriptions are often used when translating using transliteration,"or "Maorisms are mainly used in live colloquial speech. It is worth noting that it is more dynamic in contrast to the codified norm, however, the penetration of elements of live colloquial speech into mass media and academic scientific publications is also recorded in the Auckland region. Their integration into the English language mainly occurs with a stable connotation and the national and cultural specifics of a particular region. It is possible to expand, narrow or replace the original meaning of a lexical unit in the process of its adaptation from an autochthonous language," etc. The author's position in assessing the situation is objective, accurate, and quite correct. The background of the examples, in my opinion, is quite sufficient: "- "Whare" - Voire (traditionally designated 'house' or 'building', currently also used with the semantic meaning of 'residence'); - "Mana" - Mana (used in the meaning of
'spiritual power', the modern interpretation suggests an expansion of the connotation of 'authority', 'prestige'); - "Kaupapa" - Kuapapa (the values 'project' or 'agenda' were added to the original meaning of 'principle', especially in the context of the business environment for which the Auckland region is famous), "etc. The methods of analysis are relevant, selective, modern; the comparative factor plays a leading role in this case. The statement of conclusions is proportionate and consonant with the main block; the author notes that "the further development of the territorial dialect of the English language in the Auckland region will be dynamic under the influence of various extralinguistic factors contributing to its rapidly changing multicultural and multilingual essence. Such diversity will undoubtedly contribute to constant enrichment at the vocabulary level, making the language more characteristic and unique. Thus, in a synchronous section, the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language of the Auckland region is distinguished by multiple borrowings from autochthonous languages that make up the national and cultural specifics of the region, which is important to take into account when carrying out translation activities." Bibliographic sources are diverse - there are articles, monographs, and individual observations. The material is productively used when studying the specifics of the Ozeland territorial dialect of the English language. The general requirements of the publication are taken into account, the text does not need serious editing and correction. I recommend the article "Problems of translation of the national cultural component (based on the material of the New Zealand territorial dialect of the English language of the Auckland region)" for publication in the scientific journal "Litera" of the publishing house "Nota Bene".
