TRANSLATION ISSUES OF HUMOR IN COMPARED LANGUAGES: PROBLEMS OF EQUIVALENCE, TRANSFORMATIONAL TECHNIQUES, AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION
Keywords:
humor translation; equivalence; cultural adaptation; transformational techniques; pragmatics; cross-cultural communication; linguistic asymmetryAbstract
This article examines the major challenges of translating humor between typologically and culturally different languages, focusing on issues of equivalence, transformational techniques, and cultural adaptation. The study highlights how humorous units often lose their pragmatic effect when transferred directly, due to linguistic asymmetry, cultural gaps, and differences in background knowledge. Various translation strategies — including modulation, substitution, adaptation, compensation, and contextual expansion — are analyzed as effective tools for recreating humorous meaning and maintaining communicative intent. The research emphasizes the translator’s role as a cultural mediator who must balance semantic accuracy with pragmatic impact to ensure that humor remains meaningful and culturally relevant for the target audience.
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