DENOTATIVE MEANING IN TRANSLATION

Abstract

Introduction. Denotative meaning is a generalized sensual image of a number of similar material objects. Denotation represents a meaning in its objective semantic volume, connected with precise objective characteristics of a cognitive notion. Analyzed and considered in numerous scientific writings (R. Barth, Ch. Morris, U. Eco, Y. Lotman, R. Jacobson), denotative semantic peculiarities have been extensively depicted in both linguistic and philosophical backgrounds. The article deals with newly classified denotative transformations applied to achieve functional and stylistic equivalence in translating. The subject is regarded on the basis of English-Ukrainian translation lay-outs selected from literary works.

Purpose. The paper is aimed at illustrating the denotative meaning classification introduced by Prof. O. O. Selivanova to differentiate the translation replacements within formal and contents changes in translating.

Methods. The article applies the contrastive methods to establish the differences in form and contents of the two-language comparative analysis, as well as descriptive passages, to fuller explain and provide the illustrative items.

Results. Denotative meanings are found to be represented in the specially schemed and classified transformational units most of which are common in the literary texts and are to be fully re-created in the translations. Those transformations are correspondingly exposed as synonymic replacements, antonymous translation, generalization, lexical differentiation, partonymic and wholonymic changes, metaphorical and metonymical transformations, conversive and syntactic modifications.

Originality. The transformation processes are regarded in a new perspective, that of a new approach to the problems of equivalence and adequate translation in the literary context, being supported with modern views on lingual and cognitive phenomena in the evolving communicative activity throughout the global functional and translating practices.

Conclusion. Functional and stylistic equivalence is obviously perceived to be achieved through numerous translation devices including denotative transformations associated with several types of changes, most of which lie within the formal meaning of the lexical unit in the text.