European International Journal of Pedagogics
143
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
143-145
DOI
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
30 October 2024
ACCEPTED
30 December 2024
PUBLISHED
30 January 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue01 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Translation Problems:
Challenges for Students
When Learning English
G.A. Djumaeva
A
n associate professor of “Foreign languages” department of K
arshi State
Technical University, Uzbekistan
Abstract:
The article is devoted to the study of
translation problems faced by students when learning
English. The main difficulties encountered at various
stages of translation, including lexical, grammatical, and
cultural problems, as well as semantic errors, are
considered. Special attention is paid to how these issues
affect the quality of translation and the overall learning
process. The article also suggests methods and
approaches to overcome these difficulties, such as the
use of context, the development of cultural competence
and the use of modern technologies. The results of the
study can be useful for both English language teachers
and students seeking to improve their translation and
language comprehension skills.
Keywords:
Translation problems, students, English,
lexical difficulties, grammatical differences, cultural
differences, semantic errors, translation methods,
context, cultural competence, technology in teaching.
Introduction:
Translation as a process of transferring
meaning from one language to another is an important
element in teaching foreign languages. When learning
English, students often face translation-related
problems that can hinder their language development
and understanding. These problems can arise for
various reasons, from lexical and grammatical
differences to more complex semantic and cultural
aspects. Understanding these issues is important not
only for teachers, but also for students themselves, as it
allows them to choose the most effective approaches to
learning.
The main problems of translation.
1. Lexical problems
Vocabulary is the basis of translation, and many
difficulties in translation are related to the lack of exact
European International Journal of Pedagogics
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European International Journal of Pedagogics
equivalents. There are words that have no direct
translation
in
other
languages
(so-called
"untranslatable" words), which makes the task of
translation more difficult. An example is the English
word "privacy", which has a not entirely accurate
analogue in Russian (rather, it is the concept of
"privacy", but it does not cover all aspects of privacy
and personal security that exist in the English context).
Other difficulties include words with multiple
meanings (amphiboly), where one word can be
translated in different ways depending on the context.
For example, the word "bank" in English can mean
"riverbank", "financial institution" or "storage place",
and it is important for students to correctly interpret
the meaning of this word in context.
2. Grammatical differences
The grammatical systems of different languages can
vary greatly, and this is especially noticeable when
comparing English and Russian. There are no cases in
English, and the sentence is based mainly on the
principle of "Subject-Verb-Object" (subject-predicate-
complement). In Russian, the case system is more
developed, and often requires a more complex
syntactic organization.
Example
: In Russian, phrases with different cases and
verb forms can change the word order and sentence
structure, making direct translation difficult.
In English, it is important to convey the tenses
correctly, as well as to understand the use of articles,
which is not present in Russian.
Example
:
Russian
: Я собираюсь на рынок.
English
: I am going to the market.
It is important to correctly convey the tense and
structure of the verb, which can be difficult for
students who are not used to these nuances.
3. Cultural differences
Culture has a significant impact on language and,
consequently, on the translation process. The
translator needs to take into account not only the
lexical meaning of the words, but also the cultural
characteristics that they carry. This is especially
important when it comes to phraseological units,
idioms, and cultural contexts. The Russian use the
phrase "a piece of cake" in English, which means
something light, but a literal translation into Russian
would be erroneous, since there is no such expression
in Russian.
In addition, cultural differences can manifest
themselves in concepts such as norms of behavior,
social roles, and even forms of politeness. For example,
in English culture, the expression "How are you?" is
often used as a formal greeting, while in Russian it is not
always used in this context.
4. Semantic errors
Semantic errors occur due to misinterpretation of the
meaning of words, phrases, or sentences. Students who
do not have sufficient experience can translate the text
mechanically, without paying attention to the context,
which can lead to a distorted or incorrect understanding
of the meaning. This is especially common when a
transfer is carried out under time pressure or without
proper analysis.
Example of a semantic error
: The English word "assist"
is often translated as "to help", but in some contexts it
can mean "to contribute" or "to help in some process",
which does not always coincide with the direct meaning.
Ways to overcome translation problems:
1. The practice of contextual translation
To overcome lexical and semantic problems, students
must learn how to work with context. This includes the
skills of interpreting words and expressions, taking into
account the whole situation in which they are used.
Tasks focused on translating phrases and sentences can
help students see how the meaning changes depending
on the context.
Recommendation
: It is important to teach students not
only to translate words, but also to convey the whole
meaning of the text. This can be taught through the
translation of texts with different styles, types of
speech, as well as context analysis.
2. Development of cultural competence
Teachers can help students overcome cultural barriers
by teaching them the cultural aspects of the target
language. The inclusion of texts reflecting the culture of
native speakers in the course of study, as well as the use
of audio and video materials, will help students not only
expand their vocabulary, but also develop intercultural
competence. Cultural awareness reduces the likelihood
of mistakes related to misunderstandings of meanings.
3. The use of modern technologies
Modern translation technologies such as machine
translation, online dictionaries, automatic translators
and various online platforms can be useful for students.
However, it is important that students are aware of the
limitations of these tools and use them as auxiliary tools
rather than as the main means of translation.
Recommendation
: Using online resources to check the
translation and clarify the meanings of words in the
context can significantly improve the accuracy of the
translation.
CONCLUSION
European International Journal of Pedagogics
145
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European International Journal of Pedagogics
Translation problems are an integral part of English
language teaching, and they require careful attention
from both teachers and students. Lexical, grammatical,
and cultural differences are often a source of difficulty,
but they also provide an opportunity for deeper
language learning. The application of a contextual
approach, the development of cultural awareness and
the use of modern technologies will help students
overcome these difficulties and improve their
translation skills.
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