The Specific Features of Translating Aphorisms

Abstract

This article is devoted to the comprehensive linguistic and translation analysis of aphorisms as a specific type of microtext distinguished by its semantic capacity, stylistic conciseness, and generalizing function. Aphorisms, being a form of minimalistic text, are widely used in both literary and non-literary discourse due to their didactic, cognitive, and pragmatic potential. The study investigates the structural, semantic, and stylistic features of aphorisms, considering their role in reflecting personal and social experience through artistic generalization. Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of translating aphorisms from English into Russian, which often involves overcoming lexical, grammatical, and cultural differences. The object of the research is aphorisms by renowned English-speaking authors such as George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde, and Mark Twain, whose expressions exemplify the richness and complexity of this genre.

The article analyzes various translation strategies and techniques including literal (calque), descriptive, and contextual translation, as well as lexical and grammatical transformations such as omission, addition, generalization, concretization, modulation, and transposition. Each method is discussed in the context of preserving the expressive-emotional, stylistic, and semantic integrity of the original aphorism. The research is based on comparative and descriptive analysis of authentic examples, highlighting both challenges and solutions in rendering aphoristic texts adequately into the target language.

The novelty of the study lies in the systematization of translation approaches to aphorisms and in identifying their functional and stylistic significance within broader cultural and communicative contexts. The article contributes to ongoing discussions in translation studies concerning the equivalence and adequacy of translation, especially in the case of culturally loaded and stylistically marked units of speech. The conclusions drawn are relevant for both theoretical linguistics and practical translation, as they emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of aphorisms—at the intersection of language, literature, and philosophy.