TRANSLATION ASPECTS OF CULTURE-SPECIFIC ELEMENTS IN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

This article considers peculiarities of culture-specific expressions in political discourse and deals with translation problems of socio-political realia in frame of political communication. Relevance of the study is identified by the importance of providing adequate translation of specific lexis in maintaining pragmatic effect of original speech in target language. Article analyses national and cultural aspects of American political discourse based on national values presented in inaugural speech. Features of inaugural speech showcase the functional characteristics of performative genre of pollical rhetoric such as glorification of national virtues, appeal to traditional values, unification of the nations. On the basis of the study authors suggest that background knowledge about national and cultural identities of speakers enables the translator to solve translation problems caused by cultural “gap” between participants of the discourse. It is also proved that effective application of translation techniques that helps to transfer not only form but also the content, meaning and cultural coloring of realia. Content analysis of source language speech, comparative translation analysis of materials in English and Russian as well as quantitative method are applied. Results show that mechanical transmissions, creation of new expressions and likening techniques are among frequently used techniques for translation of culturally marked expressions.