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THE USE OF A PARALLEL TEXT CORPUS FOR ANALYZING INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION IN TEACHING TRANSLATION
Lola Jalilova
Associate Prof., PhD,
Bukhara state university, Uzbekistan.
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15284300
Abstract.
Intercultural communication plays a crucial role in foreign language
acquisition, as understanding cultural nuances enhances language proficiency. This study
explores the use of parallel text corpora as analytical tools for assessing intercultural elements
in language teaching. By examining linguistic variations across cultures, educators can develop
materials that foster intercultural competence. The research employs corpus analysis
methodologies to identify patterns in translation shifts, idiomatic expressions, and cultural
references, demonstrating the pedagogical value of parallel text corpora in enhancing language
education.
Key words:
parallel text corpora, intercultural communication, FL teaching, translation
studies, linguistic variations.
ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ КОРПУСА ПАРАЛЛЕЛЬНЫХ ТЕКСТОВ ДЛЯ АНАЛИЗА
МЕЖКУЛЬТУРНОЙ КОММУНИКАЦИИ В ПРЕПОДАВАНИИ ПЕРЕВОДА
Аннотация.
Межкультурная коммуникация играет решающую роль в освоении
иностранного языка, поскольку понимание культурных нюансов повышает уровень
владения языком. В этом исследовании изучается использование корпусов параллельных
текстов в качестве аналитических инструментов для оценки межкультурных элементов
в преподавании языка. Изучая языковые вариации в разных культурах, преподаватели
могут разрабатывать материалы, способствующие межкультурной компетентности.
В исследовании используются методологии анализа корпусов для выявления
закономерностей в переводческих сдвигах, идиоматических выражениях и культурных
ссылках, что демонстрирует педагогическую ценность корпусов параллельных текстов в
улучшении языкового образования.
Ключевые слова:
корпусы параллельных текстов, межкультурная коммуникация,
преподавание иностранного языка, исследования перевода, языковые вариации.
Introduction.
Effective foreign language teaching extends beyond linguistic mechanics;
it encompasses cultural awareness and intercultural competence.
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Parallel text corpora - collections of texts aligned in multiple languages - offer a unique
method for analyzing intercultural communication. Through a structured comparison of language
usage, educators and researchers can identify cultural markers, translation choices, and discourse
variations that inform teaching strategies.
Previous studies have demonstrated the relevance of corpus-based approaches in
language instruction (Johansson & Hofland, 2000; Baker, 2018). However, limited research
focuses on the role of parallel corpora in intercultural communication analysis within foreign
language pedagogy.
This study aims to systematically examine how parallel corpora enhance intercultural
competence among language learners.
Methods.
A corpus of parallel texts was compiled from publicly available multilingual
sources, including literary works, news articles, and academic papers in English, Russian, and
Uzbek. The texts were aligned using corpus tools such as Sketch Engine and AntConc. The study
employed comparative analysis techniques to identify cultural markers in translations. Key focus
areas included:
Translation shifts
: Variations in meaning and context due to cultural
differences.
Idiomatic expressions
: Cross-linguistic analysis of idioms and fixed expressions.
Discourse structures
: Differences in rhetorical organization across languages. [3, 19]
Quantitative methods were used to calculate the frequency of cultural markers, while
qualitative analysis examined nuanced translation choices. Findings were cross-referenced with
intercultural communication theories to assess their pedagogical implications.
Results.
Analysis of the parallel text corpus revealed significant intercultural variations:
Translation Shifts
:
Certain terms and phrases underwent conceptual changes during
translation, highlighting cultural adaptations (e.g., honorifics in Uzbek vs. direct equivalents in
English).
Idiomatic Expressions
:
The corpus showed differences in idiomatic usage, with some
expressions requiring cultural explanations for proper understanding. Discourse Structures:
Rhetorical strategies differed across languages, with variations in argument structure affecting
comprehension. These findings underscore the importance of integrating parallel corpora into
language curricula, allowing students to develop both linguistic and intercultural awareness.
Discussion.
The use of parallel text corpora presents numerous benefits for foreign
language educators. By exposing learners to authentic cross-linguistic variations, educators can
enhance students' cultural sensitivity and analytical skills. The results suggest that corpus-based
approaches can facilitate intercultural communication competence, particularly in multilingual
learning environments.
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Using a corpus in teaching translation allows students to analyze real language data,
improve their translation skills, and understand the contextual features of language. While
analyzing translation strategies teachers can use a corpus of parallel texts (original and
translation) to study the strategies used by professional translators. For example, consider the
following excerpt: “
He was over the moon about his promotion.”
Russian translation:
“Он был
на седьмом небе от счастья из-за повышения.”
As we see here the
corpus helps to identify
the correspondence between idiomatic expressions and their equivalents in the target language.
The corpus allows as well analyzing the interlingual interference on the translation. For
example, Russian-speaking students may translate “A real problem” ‘Реальная проблема’
instead of ‘Настоящая проблема’. Such cases can be systematized and included in educational
materials.
The corpus allows us to analyze the correspondence between the tone of original
discourse and its translation:
“We regret to inform you that your request has been denied.”
is
translated
“К сожалению, мы вынуждены сообщить вам, что ваш запрос отклонён.”
Here
the corpus shows that formal messages often use polite constructions.
Using the corpus in translation of legal and technical terms helps to identify established
terms: “
The contract is legally binding.”
Russian translation:
“Договор имеет юридическую
силу.”
The corpus helps to avoid calquing
(юридически обязывающий)
by showing natural
equivalents. It also analyses syntactic changes, as some structures require restructuring in the
target language:
“I saw a man who was walking down the street.”
Russian translation:
“Я
увидел мужчину, шедшего по улице.”
Here the corpus demonstrates the use of participial
constructions instead of subordinate clauses.
A language corpus is a valuable tool for teaching translation, allowing students to study
real examples and avoid common mistakes.
Future research could expand corpus selection to include informal dialogues and digital
communication to enrich intercultural analysis. Additionally, integrating parallel corpus tools
into classroom instruction may lead to more effective pedagogical strategies.
Conclusion.
Parallel text corpora serve as valuable resources for analyzing intercultural
communication in foreign language teaching. This study highlights their potential to enhance
learners` understanding of cross-cultural discourse, fostering more comprehensive language
acquisition. By incorporating corpus-based methodologies, educators can create more culturally
informed curricula that promote both linguistic accuracy and intercultural competence.
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REFERENCES
1.
Baker, P.
Corpus linguistics and intercultural communication: Analyzing discourse
across languages
. Routledge. 2018.
2.
Johansson, S., & Hofland, K. (2000).
Linguistic variation in text corpora: A corpus-
based approach to contrastive studies
. John Benjamins Publishing.
3.
Jiang, L., & Rij-Heyligers, C. Parallel corpus in translation studies: An intercultural
approach.
University
of
Lancaster.
2008.
P.19
Retrieved
from
https://www.lancaster.ac.uk
4.
McEnery, T., Xiao, R., & Tono, Y.
Corpus-based language studies: An advanced
resource book
. Routledge. 2006.
5.
Sinclair, J.
Trust the text: Language, corpus and discourse
. Routledge. 2004.
