Political correctness in the mirror of translation decisions in English‑language political discourse

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Abstract

Background. Currently, due to the growing interest in political communication, we have reviewed the main translation techniques used to achieve political correctness within the framework of English-language political discourse.

Purpose – to analyze the instruments for implementing political correctness in translation within the political discourse.

Materials and methods. The examples for the study were taken from the inaugural speech of D. Trump, the speech of H. Clinton, as well as other English-speaking politicians. The main translation techniques used for achieving political correctness are transcription, calquing, explication, logical synonymy, omission and addition.

Results. As a result of the research, it was found, that these techniques are used to change the modality of utterances and often perform a manipulative function, allowing the author of the translation to reduce the negative connotation of the utterance and elicit a neutral or positive reaction from the recipient, thereby ensuring political correctness in the context of the utterance.

About the authors

Alla Yu. Komanova

Russian State Agrarian University – MTAA

Author for correspondence.
Email: scaralla@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-4659-314X

PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian and Foreign Languages

 

Russian Federation, 49, Timiryazevskaya Str., Moscow, 127434, Russian Federation

Jacopo Vigna-Taglianti

Russian State Agrarian University – MTAA

Email: jacopo.vignataglianti@rgau-msha.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8449-544X

Senior Lecturer of the Department of Russian and Foreign Languages

 

Russian Federation, 49, Timiryazevskaya Str., Moscow, 127434, Russian Federation

Elena N. Shirlina

Russian State Agrarian University – MTAA

Email: shirlina@rgau-msha.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7397-6985

PhD in Philology, Associate Professor of the Department of Russian and Foreign Languages

 

Russian Federation, 49, Timiryazevskaya Str., Moscow, 127434, Russian Federation

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