MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

KAZAKH ABLAI KHAN UNIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONALRELATIONS AND WORLD

LANGUAGES

FACULTY OF TRANSLATION AND PHILOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSLATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
SPECIALTY 5B020700 - TRANSLATION STUDIES

“Lingua-cultural specificity of cognitive

dissonance and ways of overcoming it in
translation of Stephen King's novels”

Scientific supervisor: Lyan V.V.

Done by: Sarsenbayeva D.B.

ALMATY 2018
 cult
cognitive ua- ways of reducing
dissonance and its THE OBJECT cognitive dissonance
THE SUBJECT
ling
lingua-cultural with in the translation of
specificity ion modern literary texts
M nect
AI con
in
HE ng
T arisi
THE OBJECTIVES
nce
ona
4) to examine translation solutions while
1) to study the relationship between diss
conveying lingua-cultural peculiarities of
lingua-culture studies and the theory of Stephen King's novels "Pet Sematary" and “It"
itive
cognitive dissonance into Russian
cogn
cing
redu
2) to disclose the theory of cognitive
5) to analyze mistakes made by translators due
or
dissonance and the reasons for its
to the cognitive dissonance
occurrence
ng
alizi
equ
3) to justify the use of Stephen King's 6) to determine the ways and methods of
s of
novels ("Pet Sematary" and “It") as an reducing cognitive dissonance in translation of
literary texts on the basis of a comparative
way
object of linguistic and translation analysis
analysis of research materials
e
rmin
 THE TOPICALITY
to produce
adequate to study THE NOVELTY
translations of cognitive
modern literary dissonance
novels

NEED The ways to harmonize cognitive

dissonance caused by linguistic and
cultural components of contemporary
to identify artistic prose are proposed for the first
to examine the time.
translation
translator’s
strategies of
cognitive
reducing cognitive
dissonance The comparative analysis of several
dissonance
translations of the novels of Stephen
King from the point of view of
cognitive dissonance is held for the
first time.
 LUE
VA
VA
AL
AL
TIC
TIC
RE
AC
EO
PR
TH

descriptive THE RESEARCH MATERIALS

method
Stephen King's
method of novels
lingua-cultural
mathematical
analysis
statistics
“Pet Sematary”
“It” (1986)
RESEARCH (1983)
METHODS
- V. Erlikhman - F. Postovalov
comparative (“Kladbishche (“Ono”, 1993);
contextual domashnikh
translation - V. Veber
analysis zhivotnykh”, 1997);
analysis (“Ono”, 2011)
- T. Pokidayeva
transformational (“KlaTbishche
analysis domashnikh
zhYvotnykh”, 2017)
 In this research, we were guided by the scientific and
theoretical norms developed by the following scientists:

Festinger L.
Voskoboynik G.D.
Biyakova S.V. and Khopiyaynen O.A.
Maslova V.A.
W. von Humboldt
Potebnja A.A.
Shaklein V. M.
Vinogradov V. S.
Sabitova Z.K.
Khrolenko A.T.
 THEORETICAL PART

COGNITIVE DISSONANCE THEORY

refers to a situation involving
conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors

alteration in to reduce the

a feeling of
attitudes, beliefs discomfort and
discomfort or behaviors restore balance

Festinger L . (A Theory of
Cognitive Dissonance. 1957)
principle of
“we have an inner drive to cognitive
hold all our attitudes and
beliefs in harmony and avoid
consistency
disharmony (or dissonance)”
 LINGUA-CULTURE STUDIES

anthropo creation of
human -centric
paradigm linguistic units
that reflect the
national and
culture language cultural specifics

Language – the
Human – the source result of culture
Culture – the nest development
 studies the interrelation and
LINGUA-CULTURE STUDIES interaction of culture and language
in its functioning [Vorobiev V.V.]

realia

phraseological translator’s
symbols
units
cognitive
dissonance

expressive
speech formulas
means

[Ormokeyeva R. K. ”Lingvokulturologiya kak nauchnaya paradigma”]

 THE PROCESS OF TRANSLATION IS CONSTANTLY IN A STATE
OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE*

Language Language
Behavior Behavior
Artifacts Artifacts

Norms Norms
Values Values

mental component of culture cognitive dissonance

* as proposed by S.V. Biyakova and O.A. Khopiyaynen in the article “Cherez kognitivnyy
dissonans perevodchika k tozhdestvu perevoda (na materiale gornoy terminologii)”
 THE LEVELS OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE
by Voskoboynik G.D.

1st level 2nd level 3rd level

Professional “Unity in the Three aspects are
perception of the text”; considered:
text is not The attempt to semantic
developed; relate the part and (What is said?);
Knowledge of the whole; stylistic (How
culture is lacking; The use of is it said?);
Word-by-word various sources; pragmatic
translation; Consultation (What kind of
Dictionary with specialists reaction does the
correspondences reader have?)
 STEPHEN KING'S NOVELS

the events take

place in the USA
(Maine)

the translations
the presence of
had many
foreign realia
inaccuracies

the first
translations were horror fiction
reduced

Stephen King
 PRACTICAL PART
2.1 Transformations to overcome cognitive dissonance in the transfer of the
author's individual style

Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating titles

S. King’s “Pet Sematary”:
Кладбище домашних животных (V. Erlikhman), 1993;
Кладбище домашних любимцев (A. Tishin), 1993;
Кошачье кладбище (I. Bagrov), 1993;
Кладбище домашних животных (M. Gribanova), 1996;
КлаТбище домашних жЫвотных (T. Pokidayeva), 2016.

Pet Pet intentional

Sematary Cemetery mistakes

Pragmatic
КлаТбище intentional cognitive
домашних mistakes are dissonance adaptation/
жЫвотных preserved was reduced compensation/
3rd level
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating lexical repetition
ST (“Pet Sematary”)
He felt apprehensive-no, he felt scared. In fact he felt terrified.
TT 1 (Erlikhman V. ) TT 2 (Pokidayeva T.)
Он почувствовал тревогу — нет, Ему было тревожно… нет, ему было
скорее испуг. Да что там — он страшно. На самом деле его охватил
почувствовал ужас. ужас.

Grammatical substitution: Grammatical substitution: apprehensive

apprehensive (adj) = тревога
(noun); scared (adj) = испуг (noun);
terrified (adj) = ужас (noun). Calque
of the verb “to feel” + repetition of
the ST is preserved: почувствовал
тревогу, почувствовал ужас.
= 3rd level
(adj) = тревожно (predicative); scared
(adj) = страшно (predicative); terrified
(adj) = ужас (noun).
Modulation of the verb “to feel”: 1) он
чувствовал – ему было (тревожно,
страшно); 2) чувствовать, ощущать,
испытывать, быть в состоянии, быть
охваченным – «его охватил ужас».
= 3rd level
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating metaphors and epithets
ST (“Pet Sematary”)
…the hunt for a house within commuting distance of the university had been
hair-raising.
TT 1 (Erlikhman V. ) TT 2 (Pokidayeva T.)
…нелегко было и отыскать дом …поиски жилья поближе к работе
на приемлемом расстоянии от напоминали кошмарный сон.
места работы.

Grammatical substitution: hunt Modulation of the epithet “hair-

(noun) = отыскать (verb).
Demetaphorization: the epithet
“hair-raising” was lost – «нелегко
было».
= 1st level (only semantic aspect)
raising”: волосы, стоящие дыбом –
чувство страха – ужас – кошмарный
сон.
Demetaphorization: the metaphor of
“the hunt for a house” was not
preserved – «поиски жилья»
= 2nd level (stylistic aspect was
partially saved)
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating irony
ST (“It”)
'Georgie, can't you slam that door a little harder next time? Maybe you
could break some of the plates in the Welsh dresser, if you really tried.
TT 1 (F. Postovalov) TT 2 (V. Veber)
Джордж, в следующий раз не Джорджи, в следующий раз
мог бы ты быть поаккуратнее с сможешь хлопнуть дверью чуть
дверью? Так ты нам разобьешь сильнее? Возможно, тебе удастся
все тарелки в буфете. разбить несколько тарелок в
серванте.

Antonymic translation: can't you Literal translation: «slam that door a

slam that door a little harder = не
мог бы ты быть поаккуратнее
с дверью.
Grammatical substitution:
subjunctive mood was
transformed into indicative.
Irony was lost = 1st level
little harder» – «хлопнуть дверью чуть
сильнее»; «Maybe you could…» –
«Возможно, тебе удастся…».
Omission of the construction “if you
really tried”.
Irony was preserved = 3rd level
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating profanity
ST (“It”)
As he looked, he saw Mellon turn to Hagarty . . . and they kissed briefly.
'Oh, man, I'm gonna barf!' Webby cried, disgusted.
TT 1 (F. Postovalov) TT 2 (V. Veber)
Потом он увидел, как Меллон А в тот момент, когда он смотрел
повернулся к Хагарти... и они на них, Меллон повернулся к
поцеловались. Хагарти… и они поцеловались.
«О, люди, я торчу!» — крикнул — Чел, я сейчас блевану, — в
Вебби, почувствовав отвращение. отвращении воскликнул Паук.

The meaning of the ST is distorted: Calque: to barf = блевать.

the verb “торчать” means “to
experience pleasure, euphoria” and it
does not correspond to the context
where the character expresses disgust
at a homosexual couple.
= no level
Сontextual substitution: man = чел
(compensates the colloquial
construction I'm gonna)
= 3rd level
2.2 Ways to equalize cognitive dissonance in the translation of American
realia in S. King’s novels

THE LEVELS OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE IN TRANSLATING REALIA

(based on G.D. Voskoboynik’s classification)
1st level 2nd level 3rd level
Foreignization; Domestication; The meaning
Transliteration; Generalization; of realia is
Transcription; The meaning conveyed;
The meaning of realia is Realia can be
of realia is not conveyed, but the identified;
conveyed realia cannot be Lexical
identified addition;
Context
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating realia (medicine)
ST (“Pet Sematary”)
Eileen, it's just Mercurochrome, and it doesn't sting-
TT 1 (Erlikhman V. ) TT 2 (Pokidayeva T.)
Эйлин, это всего-навсего ртутная Эйлин, это всего лишь меркурохром,
примочка, она не жжется... он не жжется…»

Descriptive translation – the name Foreignization and Transliteration - the

of the drug was omitted, but the
active ingredient (mercury) was
disclosed, the idea that the
medicine is painless was conveyed
= 2nd level
original name of the drug was
preserved, but the reader will be
confused as this medicine is not
familiar to the Russian speaking
audience
= 1st level
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating realia (brand names)
ST (“Pet Sematary”)
…her billions of Crayolas, whole, broken and blunted, her Sesame Street
posters, her picture books, her clothes, and heaven knew what else.
TT 1 (Erlikhman V. ) TT 2 (Pokidayeva T.)
…ее игрушками, целыми и …ее миллиардами цветных мелков,
поломанными, с ее детскими целых, сломанных и затупившихся; с
книжками, с ее вещами и Бог знает, ее плакатами с «Улицей Сезам»; с
с чем еще. ее книжками, с ее одеждой и бог
знает с чем еще.

Realia “Crayola” was conveyed Generalization: Crayolas = цветные

incorrectly as Crayola is a brand best
known for its crayons and has no
connection to toys (игрушки). Realia
“Sesame Street” was omitted, the
word “posters” was translated
incorrectly as “poster” means “colorful
wall picture”, but not “a children's
book” = no level
мелки. Calque and partial
transcription: Sesame Street = Улица
Сезам. Specification: posters =
плакаты
= 3rd level
Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating realia (education system)
ST (“It”)
….that wasn't the only reason why Bill got all A's on his report cards
TT 1 (F. Postovalov) TT 2 (V. Veber)
…не только поэтому во всех …это не единственная причина, по
табелях у брата высокие которой в табеле Билла стояли одни
оценки пятерки

Generalization: «высокие Domestication: «пятерки»

оценки»
2nd level (semantic aspect)

Grades can be assigned as letters (for example A through F) in the U.S.

However, we use a five-point academic grading system, where: 5
"Excellent“ and 1 "Very Poor“.
 2.3 Methods of reducing cognitive dissonance in translation of
phraseological units in S. King’s novels

Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating PhU

ST (“Pet Sematary”)
Hell, wake me up sometimes, and I sleep like a goddam log.
TT 1 (Erlikhman V. ) TT 2 (Pokidayeva T.)
Да что там, они и меня будят, а Иногда будят Норму. Черт, иногда
я-то сплю, как бревно. будят даже меня, а я сплю как
бревно.

Both translators used phraseological equivalent “спать как бревно”.

However, they did not convey substandard vocabulary of the source text
(goddamn - чертов, проклятый), this is why cognitive dissonance was
not completely overcome = 2nd level
 Reducing cognitive dissonance in translating PhU
ST (“It”)
Marvin Gaye, one of the newer members of what Rich sometimes called The
All-Dead Band, came on singing 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine.'
TT 1 (F. Postovalov) TT 2 (V. Veber)
Марвин Гей, один из новичков в Марвин Гэй, один из новых
том, что Ричи иногда называл членов, как иногда называл их
«оркестром мертвецов», пел: «Я Рич, Оркестра покойников, пел
слышал это по сарафанному «На ушко мне шепнули».
радио».

Phraseological analogue: Modulation: я слышал сплетни –

«сарафанное радио» до меня дошел слух – мне
= 3rd level шепнули на ухо. Phraseologism was
not preserved
= 1st level
Translation solutions for the transmission of expressive means

antonymic translation
3% 3%
generalization
5%
8% grammatical substitution
14% literal translation

idiomatic translation
18% calque
8%
specification

2% contextual substitution

modulation
4%
17% 6% omission

12% transliteration

foreignization
 Translation solutions for the transmission of realia

descriptive translation
10 2% 2% 4%
foreignization
% 6% transliteration
omission
12 7%
% transliteration
calque
10%
transcription
4% specification
compensation
7% 16% lexical addition
11% domestication
9% contextual substitution
modulation
 Translation solutions for the transmission of PhU

5% 5%

10% 10%
lexical addition
calque
modulation
15% descriptive translation
phraseological equiva-
25% lent
phraseological analogue
contextual substitution

30%
 1) The degree of overcoming cognitive dissonance in translations of Stephen
King's “Pet Sematary” made by V. Erlikhman and T. Pokidayeva

Translation of expressive means Translation of realia

70 60
60 50
50 Level 1 40 Level 1
40 Level 2 30 Level 2
30 Level 3 Level 3
20
20 No level
No level 10
10
0 0
V. Erlikhman T. Pokidayeva V. Erlikhman T. Pokidayeva

Translation of PhU
70
60
50 Level 1
40 Level 2
30 Level 3
20
No level
10
0
V. Erlikhman T. Pokidayeva
 2) The degree of overcoming cognitive dissonance in the translations of
Stephen King's “It” made by F. Postovalov and V. Veber

Translation of expressive means Translation of realia

60 60
50 50
40 Level 1 40 Level 1
30 Level 2 30 Level 2
20 Level 3 20 Level 3
10 No level 10 No level
0 0
F. Postovalov V. Veber F. Postovalov V. Veber

Translation of PhU
60
50
40 Level 1
30 Level 2
20 Level 3
10 No level
0
F. Postovalov V. Veber
 CONCLUSION
Cognitive dissonance is caused by linguocultural differences that include realia,
phraseological units, expressive means, speech formulas.
The process of translation is constantly in a state of cognitive dissonance in
connection with linguistic and cultural differences between the SL and the TL.
To reduce cognitive dissonance caused by linguocultural differences, it is necessary
to apply certain translation transformations, strategies and techniques such as pragmatic
adaptation, descriptive translation, generalization, compensation, modulation.
Cognitive dissonance plays a significant role in the translation practice, even
professional translators might not always achieve the 3rd level of cognitive dissonance.
The level of dissonance depends on the year of the translation: the newer the
translation, the more often the 3rd level of dissonance is reached, and the older the
translation, the greater the presence of translation mistakes.
The comparative analysis of two variants of the translation of “Pet Sematary"
revealed that the translation of T. Pokidayeva (2017) was performed at a higher level,
since the translator reached the 3rd level of dissonance more often as compared to V.
Erlikhman (1997) who was mostly at the 1st and 2nd levels.
After comparing two translations of the novel “It" it was revealed that in the
translation of F. Postovalov it was often impossible to determine the level of cognitive
dissonance, since the translation was not always performed adequately. The translation of
V. Weber has fewer mistakes and presents an adequate translation, since the translator
managed to achieve the 2nd or 3rd levels of dissonance in many cases.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
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