CHALLENGES OF INTERPRETING CULTURE-CPECIFIC WORDS IN ENGLISH TEXTBOOKS
Keywords:
Keywords: componential analysis, Peter Newmark, culture-specific words, translation challenges, lexical gaps, English textbooks, cultural contextAbstract
Abstract
This thesis explores the challenges of interpreting culture-specific words (CSWs)
in English textbooks, emphasizing the importance of cultural awareness in translation.
It highlights the concept of lexical gaps and the absence of direct equivalents in the
target language. Drawing on Peter Newmark’s theory and especially his use of
componential analysis (CA), the research demonstrates how this method can break
down complex cultural terms into translatable elements. Examples such as “quaint,”
“kvass,” and “liberalism” show how CA helps clarify meaning and preserve cultural
nuance. The study concludes that while complete equivalence is often unattainable,
componential analysis provides a practical approach for translators striving to convey
both meaning and cultural context.
References
References:
1. Newmark, P. (1988). A Textbook of Translation. Prentice Hall.
2. Baker, M. (2018). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation (3rd ed.).
Routledge.
3. Nida, E. A., & Taber, C. R. (1969). The Theory and Practice of Translation. Brill
Academic.
4. Venuti, L. (1995). The Translator's Invisibility: A History of Translation.
Routledge.
