COGNITIVE-PRAGMATIC ANALYSIS OF TERMS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

The translation of specialized terms demands precise adherence to target audience discourse rules and appropriate equivalent selection. Dictionaries often provide multiple equivalents, causing translation challenges.

This study investigates the application of cognitive-pragmatic analysis to common terms borrowed from the trilingual explanatory dictionary of petroleum geology, “Mұнай және газ геологиясы терминдерінің түсіндірме сөздігі”, edited by T.N.Zhumagaliyev and B.M.Kuandykov. The research focuses on “берег” (bereg) and “болото” (boloto), terms frequently used in various discourses. The study aims to identify semantic differences between their English equivalents and analyze their pragmatic impact on the recipient. The study employs cognitive-pragmatic approach to analyze sentences generated by artificial intelligence to identify semantic nuances and pragmatic implications.

This research seeks to identify semantic differences between English equivalents’ meanings for terms “берег” and “болото”. The study uses pragmatic perception of these equivalents for recipients and develops practical recommendations for their usage as well as for translators of special texts.

The study contributes to translation studies by advancing understanding of cognitive-pragmatic analysis and provides tools for translators in selecting appropriate equivalents which leads to translation accuracy.

The research reveals that even common terms can have varying meanings in specialized contexts. Cognitive-pragmatic analysis helps uncover these nuances and provides guidelines for working with equivalents.

The paper demonstrates the effectiveness of cognitive-pragmatic analysis in addressing challenges related to term equivalence in specialized translation. It offers practical recommendations for translators and contributes to the theoretical foundations of translation studies.