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PROBLEMS OF TRANSLATION AND ASSIMILATION OF ANTHROPONYMS
To`rayeva Umida Egamberdiyevna
Associate Professor of the University of Information
Technologies and Management
Annotation:
This article examines the specific difficulties associated with translating
anthroponyms - personal names - across cultures. The study examines the deep cultural
significance of names and the difficulties translators may face in preserving their original
meaning and essence when adapting them to another language. By analyzing various translation
methods, such as transcription, transliteration, transposition, copying, compensation and
transcreation, an understanding of effective strategies for preserving the integrity of
anthroponyms and mitigating cultural misunderstandings that may arise during the translation
process is provided.
Keywords:
globalization, anthroponym, cultural relations, translation methods, linguistic
elements.
The process of globalization, which is currently gaining momentum, has affected various fields,
including linguistics, and has increased cultural and economic exchanges between countries. One
of the notable areas affected by this exchange is onomastics - the study of names. Personal
names, or anthroponyms, are not only identifiers, but also carriers of cultural and social
information. Due to the potential for misinterpretation in the process of adapting and translating
them into other languages, the cultural meanings embodied in the anthroponym can be lost. This
article examines the problems that linguists and translators face when working with
anthroponyms in the context of intercultural communication. It examines how anthroponyms can
be correctly transmitted across languages while preserving the cultural significance of
names, and discusses the methods used to overcome these difficulties. Understanding these
processes is crucial for strengthening mutual respect and preventing cultural conflicts in a
globalized world.
Intercultural communication is a direct or indirect exchange of information between
representatives of different linguistic cultures and a sufficient level of mutual understanding
between two participants in a communicative act belonging to different national cultures. This is
a communication that takes place in conditions of significant culturally determined differences in
the communicative abilities of its participants, and these differences can significantly affect the
successful or otherwise successful outcome of this communication. The concept of intercultural
communication was first theoretically approached by anthropologist Edward T. Hall. In his book
"Silent Language", published in 1959, the relationship between communication and culture was
extensively analyzed. In the scientific literature of the 1970s, intercultural communication was
used in a somewhat narrow sense, but later it began to be studied more widely in such fields as
comparative cultural studies and translation theory. In order for two participants in
communication to understand each other correctly, both of them must be aware of the culture of
the interlocutor. Since a person's name, surname or nickname is considered an important
component during a communicative act, its correct expression prevents the emergence of cultural
conflict.
A person's name is an integral part of his existence. Personal names are lexical units that have an
important identity in language and speech, have functions such as identifying the referent,
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transmitting information about him. Personal names play an important role in intercultural
communication, serving as both a symbol of identity and a means of strengthening ties.
Anthroponyms are manifested in various aspects of intercultural relations. In particular, they are
important in expressing mutual respect, and addressing people by their name correctly shows
respect for their personality, while using the wrong name, on the contrary, is manifested as a sign
of cultural indifference, disrespect. Understanding how names are used in a professional
environment can affect business relationships and negotiations. For example, in some cultures,
using a person's full name or official title is important in professional settings, while in others a
more casual approach may be the norm.It is believed that no special approach is required when
translating names or proper nouns from one language to another. However, this opinion is not
entirely justified, because the name itself has a deep semantic structure, its own characteristics in
terms of form and etymology in the language in which it exists, and when translated into another
language, most of these characteristics are lost. In addition to distinguishing a person from others
in society, anthroponyms perform a number of other functions, including providing information
about a person's social status, lineage, beliefs, nationality or values. When translating them into
another language, it is difficult to fully preserve these characteristics of names. Although names
cannot be exactly assimilated into another language in terms of form and meaning, there are
several ways to translate them while preserving their main characteristics. Many monographs,
dissertations, and scientific articles provide information and opinions about them, sometimes the
same, sometimes slightly different. In general, the methods widely used in the translation of
anthroponyms include transcription, transliteration, transposition, calculus, compensation,
translation with a close meaning, and translation by coining a new word (transcreation). In
addition, various other methods can be used, depending on the context and purpose in which the
onomastic lexicon is being mastered. For example, when translating place names, lexical
expansion (the English word "Park" is translated into Russian as "ПаркАвенью"), replacing the
onomastic unit with a general lexical unit in the context (on the way to Connecticut -
отправилась на восток) or "dropping" anthroponyms in cases where they do not have a
significant impact on the content of the text (Night, Glo! - Хайрли тун!) are used in the
translation of feature films. Based on most of the scientific sources studied, it can be said that the
above methods are the most commonly used methods in the translation of names.
Phonetic translation, or transcription, is the exact representation of the name being translated
using speech sounds that are close to those in the native language. In this translation method, the
written form of names may change significantly, but the pronunciation does not differ much
from the original language. Using this method, most names are transferred from language to
language. For example, John in English is spelled as John in Uzbek, although it differs in
spelling by only one letter, but is pronounced the same as the original form. William - William,
Maria - Mary, George - George, David - David, and many other similar names can be cited as
examples. It should also be noted that the more similar the sound system of the language being
learned and the language of the original text, the more successful the learning of anthroponyms
based on the phonetic principle. The translation method based on graphic similarity -
transliteration is also a common method of learning names from language to language.
Transliteration is the writing of words in one language using graphic symbols of another
language. Since transliteration appeared earlier than translation based on the phonetic principle,
and later transcription began to be widely used in translation, several alternative versions of
some names have appeared. An example of this is names that begin with the English letters "w"
and "h": Winston - Winston, Winston; Harry - Harry, Harry. Based on the examples, it can be
said that the transliteration method is rarely used alone when translating anthroponyms, it is
usually used in combination with transcription.
Many names pass from one language to another through transposition, which is the most trouble-
free method for translators to translate names into another language. This method consists in
using a variation (equivalent) of a given name in another language that meets the requirements of
that language. For example, English names like Ann, Catherine, Elizabeth have Russian
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equivalents like Анна, Катерина, Елизавета.Another easier method of translation, which creates
less problems for the translator in finding an alternative word, is calque (from the French
"calque" - copy, imitation) - copying from a lexical unit of another language based on the means
of the native language. This method involves a word-for-word translation, in which the translated
word adapts to the linguistic and cultural norms of the language that is acquiring it. Since most
common names have alternatives in most languages of the world, the calque method is
common in translating such names and surnames. For example, the English name John has
alternatives such as Jean in French, Juan (Juan) in Spanish, and Ivan in Russian. Hundreds of
examples of such names and surnames with the same etymology can be given.
The compensation method is when the cultural features assigned to the onomastic unit in the
source language are not found in the language being translated, it is replaced with a word that
reflects a more suitable cultural feature, that is, it is compensated, filled. Compensation, like
methods such as translating by replacing it with a word with a similar meaning or inventing a
new word and translating it, relies on the translator's creativity, and these methods are widely
used in translating the names of fictional or semi-fictional characters in works of art.
Translating and adapting anthroponyms in a globalized context poses a number of difficulties for
translators and linguists due to the different cultural identities and social meanings that
anthroponyms reflect. In our small study, as we examine the various methods used in translating
personal names, including transcription, transliteration, transposition, copying, compensation,
and transcreation, we will witness that each method has its strengths and certain limitations, and
the complexity of maintaining cultural and semantic integrity across languages. However,
despite these complexities, effective translation practices can enhance intercultural
communication and contribute to the maintenance and even strengthening of mutual respect
between individuals of different nationalities. As globalization continues to develop, continuous
research and improvement of these methods will be essential to ensure that proper names are
correctly and respectfully used in intercultural interactions.
References
1. Bogatikova L.I. Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication. Gomel, - 2009.
2.
https://fastercapital.com/content/Cultural-sensitivity--Respecting-Differences-in-a-Cross-
Cultural-Context.html
3. S. M. Volodko, E. S. Sidelnikova. Linguistics, Intercultural Communication and the Content
of Foreign Language Education // Language and Intercultural Communication: Modern Vectors
of Development, Issue 2. Pinsk, 2021
4. Hall, E.T. The Silent Language / E. T. Hall. - Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1959.
5. Ermolovich, D.I. Proper Names at the Crossroads of Languages and Cultures. - M., 2001
- 200 p.
6. Merkulova A., Solomonovskaya A. L., Features of the transmission of proper names in the
process of audiovisual translation (based on the English-language cartoon "Madagascar") //
Bulletin of NSU. Linguistics and intercultural communication. 2023. v.21 No.4
7. Klyusov, G. N. Belarusian-Russian parallels in the transmission of personal names // Russian
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