PRAGMATICS OF TRANSLATION IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Abstract

In the context of globalization and intercultural exchange, translation serves as a primary mechanism for mediating meaning between linguistic and cultural systems. This study investigates the pragmatic dimension of translation in cross-cultural communication, emphasizing the translator’s dual role as both linguist and cultural mediator. Using a qualitative-analytical approach, 50 fragments from English and Russian literary texts were analyzed through comparative stylistic and pragmatic evaluation. Results demonstrate that pragmatic adaptation—through omission, addition, explicitation, and cultural substitution—accounts for approximately 68% of all translation transformations, indicating its central role in ensuring communicative adequacy. Examples from translations of Dickens, Shakespeare, Dostoevsky, and Herbert E. Bates reveal that functional equivalence depends less on literal accuracy than on cultural sensitivity, emotional resonance, and aesthetic fidelity. The findings underscore that translation functions as a creative and interpretative act of intercultural dialogue, promoting mutual understanding and empathy among cultures