«Наука, инновации и образование: ключевые
векторы общественного прогресса»
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LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF TRANSLATION
SCIENTIFIC - POPULAR TEXT
Norbekova Farangiza
Tashkent State Uzbek Language And Literature University
Translation Studies Department
E-mail: farangiza_norbekova@mail.ru
Abstract:
This article discusses the peculiarities of linguostylistic analysis of
translations of popular science texts. The means used to present the information
found in them, and the expression of these means in the target language are also
considered.
Keywords:
popular science texts, translation, terms, cognitive data, linguistic
stylistics.
In the 21st century, the popularity of science is significantly increasing.
Science is becoming fashionable. However, the language of scientific style is
supplemented by special vocabulary and terms. Its characteristics include
dryness, separation, structure, and commonality. Also, scientific texts often
require readers to have certain knowledge of the topic covered. All it makes
scientific texts a difficult and sometimes even insurmountable obstacle for non-
specialists [2].
With the emergence of popular science literature, located at the intersection
of scientific and artistic styles, the growing demand for science is being met. Such
texts are available to everyone. In writing popular science books authors have
more freedom than when writing text in an academic scientific style. For example,
monographs, articles, or dissertations [1]. Expressive means of expression make
popular science texts more attractive to readers.
There is less specialized vocabulary in popular science texts, and the terms
often have explanations. It should also be noted that there is humor in popular
science literature. Irony, jokes, and references to familiar things include readers,
preventing their boredom, and making the process of consuming scientific
information exciting and simple [3].
Thanks to all this, today popular science literature is included in the list of
bestsellers every year, and entire shelves in all bookstores are dedicated to
popular science books. Modern popular science literature around the world
follows approximately the same style. This method was developed in the United
States and the United Kingdom.
The scientific style has its characteristics in the field of vocabulary, which
distinguishes it from other styles. It is noteworthy that this feature is also revealed
«Наука, инновации и образование: ключевые
векторы общественного прогресса»
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in English and Uzbek. Popular science style is a variant of scientific functional
style, characterized by ease of presentation, excitement, simplicity, and clarity.
The main goal of this sub-method is to popularize scientific literature. Popular
science texts written in a simplified style are intended for a wide audience, as this
sub-genre is characterized by a simplified presentation. This, in turn, indicates
that readers are not required to possess precise knowledge in a particular field
[2].
At the lexical level, we found the presence of frequently used vocabulary
and terms in popular science texts, which are explained through annotations,
clarifications, and information in parentheses.
F.ex:
Insomnia is a sleep disorder that affects as many as 35% of adults. It is
marked by problems getting to sleep, staying asleep through the night, and sleeping
as long as you would like into the morning
[5]. In this case, the author explains what
insomnia means in "useful" language without various complex scientific terms.
Ring eclipses are explained in an expanded sentence. We can notice this in the
following sentence:
It is marked by problems getting to sleep.
Public scientific substyle terminology is more convenient for readers. This
is due to the presence of vocabulary frequently used in popular science texts, such
as "getting to sleep," and "staying asleep through the night."
The scientific-functional style is used to convey objective information,
which leads to an impersonal presentation of the material. The reason is that the
main thing in a scientific work is not the author himself and his opinion, but the
concepts and arguments he wants to express. In order not to use the first person
pronoun expressing the author's opinion as a subject, a certain range of noun or
secondary nominative means are used in the process of linguistic stylistic
translation, they are personal and demonstrative pronouns, suffixes referring to
such a noun. Therefore, impersonal constructions can be found in scientific texts:
It is estimated that 40% [3]; There's also the question; It is marked by problems [5].
The mass science style offers access to the described events and facts and
does not show the exact results. During the linguostylistic analysis of the
translation, we found that the authors of popular science texts do not draw
conclusions about the work, but only show some important thoughts or end their
work directly with a fact:
"Archer hopes this is the start of a shift towards better
working environments across a range of sectors. Giving people the power to solve
their work problems, and helping them to keep their long-term aspirations and
values in sight: this is the future, " he says [5].
The author did not conclude his work
but referred to the words of another scholar.
Scientific-popular texts contain personal pronouns, such as: "can throw off
your sleep timing," "priming you for action," "we do after we wash our hands,"
"you can do," "they have a cold," "we're still a long way from reaching AGI" [5]. In
these examples, personal pronouns are used to indicate the addressee and to give
a "dialogical" sign to the scientific text.
«Наука, инновации и образование: ключевые
векторы общественного прогресса»
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Texts of popular science style combine elements of colloquial speech, which
is reflected in compression, leading to incompleteness and redundancy of
expression. In addition, we have identified morphological and lexical
compression from a linguostylistic perspective. This manifests itself in the
abbreviated form of auxiliary verbs: "person's div can't adjust," "it's important,"
"don't become," "population doesn't have"[3]. Furthermore, at the lexical level,
we found a word missing, for example: P. gingivalis (from Porphyromonas
gingivalis) [5]. In this case, compression is used to be closer and easier to perceive
the text.
The analysis also revealed the use of phrases and idioms that popularize
scientific knowledge at the lexical level: "
falling asleep or stayi
ng asleep», «take
time off for illness», «pick up loads», «condition could come down to», «Time after
time», «day off per year»
[5]. The use of these units makes it easier to comprehend
the text, as they are frequently employed in conversational speech.
The use of direct questions to mysterians, which are used as expressive
means of language to attract attention in the process of linguostylistic analysis of
the translation of a popular science text:
• What Causes Insomnia?
• Is hand
-washing really a panacea?
• What exactly is artificial intelligence (AI)?
• Still, is the simple act as effective at thwarting microbes as we think? [
5]
To accurately express information, popular science texts are supplemented
with appropriate titles:
«
The US National
Institutes of Health spent $1.9 billion»,
«Frank Bond at Goldsmiths, University of London», «the American Journal of Public
Health»
[5]. As you can see, the authors of the article refer to the research of other
scientists, which is manifested in the use of specific names, in our cases these are
the names of organizations and the names of scientists.
In addition, the authors of the articles refer to various digital signs and
facts:
«in 30
-
48%», «49 per cent of all working days», «in the UK in 2016
-
17»
[5],
Accuracy is another characteristic of the popular scientific style. This
involves the use of specialized vocabulary and terminology:
There are also
consequences for physical health: studies have shown that long-term stress leads to
a compromised immune system, contributing to debilitating headaches, digestive
disorders and cardiovascular disease; Problems affecting the brain, including
neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders, have been found to be
associated with an elevated risk of insomnia [5].
Based on the above examples, it can be noted that the terms used in this
sub-method have a strictly clear meaning and belong to some areas of science:
"cardiovascular disease" - cardiovascular diseases; "personality disorder" -
personality disorder (in psychology); "digestive disorders" - digestive disorders
(gastrointestinal disorders); "neurosis" refers to neurosis, "neurodegenerative
and neurodevelopmental disorders" refers to neurodegenerative disorders and
«Наука, инновации и образование: ключевые
векторы общественного прогресса»
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the development of the nervous system. Moreover, terminology is clear and
independent of the linguostylistic context in the process of translation.
It is also necessary to pay attention to the presence of academic or formal
words: "contributing," "debilitating," and "consequences." These words are long,
complex in structure, and borrowed. They have specific denotative meanings and
in some cases are characterized by the absence of connotations.
The use of verbs expressing actions and situations related to the object of
study was also noted: It depends on, what exists to prevent good hand-washing
practice [5]. In these examples, such verbs are "depend" and "exist." The groups
of registered verbs together have the function of influencing the addressee.
The characteristic of scientific-popular text translations is the use of nouns
as the main attribute in the general case - in the linguostylistic aspect. Due to the
use of multicomponent phrases, authors can convey a large amount of
information with a small amount of grammatical means [4]. In addition, the
aforementioned constructions perform a term-forming function. For example:
"excessive daytime sleepiness" - daytime sleepiness; "artificial intelligence" -
artificial intelligence; "strep throat" - acute pharyngitis; "shortness of breath" -
shortness of breath [1].
At the end of the study, we came to the conclusion that popular science texts
are aimed at conveying scientific information to an audience that is not ready to
perceive it, and this is reflected at the lexical, grammatical, and syntactic levels.
Because popular science methods popularize scientific knowledge, it has many
characteristics of other functional styles.
A stylistic analysis of existing examples and, in general, popular science
literature allows us to conclude that English and Uzbek literature are very similar
in terms of style. However, some features allow us to speak about some
differences. For example, it has been noted that popular science texts in English
are supplemented with expressive means of expression. The style of popular
science texts in the Uzbek language is traditionally considered moderate and
neutral.
At the same time, regardless of the language, the following characteristic
features of the scientific-popular style are highlighted: the use of artistic speech
techniques, the use of colloquial speech, the replacement of special terminology
with descriptions, the use of various methods, including speech, to actualize the
attention of the reader or listener.
An analysis of the translation of existing examples allows us to conclude
that translators should often use different types of linguistic and stylistic changes
in text translations when translating texts of popular science literature. Their use
is necessary to preserve the pragmatic nature of the source text and at the same
time the emotional component, which is a characteristic feature of popular
science texts in English.
«Наука, инновации и образование: ключевые
векторы общественного прогресса»
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References
:
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