Folia Philologica

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF TRANSLATING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Tetiana BOTVYN — 2025-07-03

Under the current conditions of rapid development of information technologies, globalisation and the constant growth of international communication, the study of language abbreviations, in particular acronyms and abbreviations, is becoming particularly relevant in various fields of human activity. The article discusses the theoretical foundations and practical aspects of translating abbreviated language units in various communication contexts, including the fields of information technology, medicine, education, law and international politics. The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of modern methods of translating language abbreviations and to identify difficulties related to cultural, social and contextual differences that arise in the process of interlingual information transfer. Particular attention is paid to the impact of acronyms on the target audience’s perception of the text’s content, as well as the importance of preserving the original sociocultural subtext when translating such linguistic units. It is shown that abbreviations often carry not only an informational load, but also a specific symbolic meaning, which requires a translator to have a deep understanding of not only the language system, but also the cultural context of the source. The article analyses typical mistakes in the translation of abbreviations and acronyms and their possible impact on the accuracy, clarity and adequacy of the final text. The relevance of the work is caused by the insufficient degree of study of this issue in Ukrainian translation studies, despite the obvious need to improve professional communication against the background of digitalisation, globalisation and internationalisation of society. The article proposes a number of strategies and approaches that help to preserve semantic accuracy, communicative efficiency and stylistic conformity when translating abbreviations in a professional environment. Specific examples of successful and unsuccessful translation of abbreviations in real texts from various fields of activity are presented. The results obtained can be used in theoretical studies of translation studies, in the practical work of translators, as well as in the field of intercultural communication and specialised translation training.

ETYMOLOGICAL SPECIFICS OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY VOCABULARY IN ENGLISH: BASED ON THE VOCABULARY OF INTELLIGENCE SPHERE

Liudmyla ZAIATS — 2025-07-03

The article examines etymological specifics of the national security vocabulary in English based on the vocabulary of the intelligence sphere. The relevance of the research topic is determined by the fact that, in the context of growing global threats, hybrid wars and informational confrontation, the vocabulary of the national security and intelligence sphere in English is becoming increasingly relevant. The study of the etymological features of such vocabulary allows not only to trace its historical formation, but also to reveal the influence of sociopolitical factors on its semantic evolution. Despite the availability of dictionaries and reference books on intelligence, intelligence vocabulary as a separate subsystem of the English language has not yet been the subject of sufficient in-depth analysis. The aim of this research is to identify the etymological features of the vocabulary of the national security sphere based on the material of dictionary entries of the intelligence sphere dictionary. In the course of the study, the concept of the vocabulary of the national security sphere is presented, the concept of intelligence and its relation to the national security sphere is investigated, and the etymological features of the lexical units of national security presented in the intelligence sphere dictionaries are analyzed. Given that the vocabulary of the intelligence sphere is a complex and multifaceted element of the language system, which is constantly evolving under the influence of political, social and technological changes, and the vocabulary of the intelligence sphere is formed in conditions of high confidentiality, specialization and efficiency, the focus of practical analysis is concentrated on such sources of the vocabulary of the intelligence sphere as borrowings from Latin, Greek, French, Italian and other languages, as well as the role of rethinking common language vocabulary and terminologies of other spheres of activity, metaphorization, euphemization and onomastic formations in the process of forming lexical units. Particular attention is paid to lexemes that reflect the internal terminology of intelligence agencies (e.g., aardwolf, asset, Pollyanna), their origin and semantic transformations. As a result, it was revealed that the vocabulary of the intelligence sphere is a dynamic, confidential, highly specialized system, the development of which is determined by both internal factors and interlingual contacts of specialists.

MODERN MEDIA CULTURE AND ANTIQUITY: INTERTEXTUAL STRATEGIES IN THE EPISODE I, CARUMBUS OF THE ANIMATED SERIES THE SIMPSONS

Nataliia KOROLOVA — 2025-07-03

The article examines the representation of classical heritage in the contemporary media space through the example of the animated series The Simpsons. Special attention is given to the analysis of historical allusions and linguistic strategies employed to create multi-layered cultural meanings. The aim of the study is to integrate linguistic analysis into traditional approaches to the study of classical reception, using as a case study the episode I, Carumbus. The research focuses on identifying how allusions, reminiscences, and linguistic elements related to the Roman history and culture function within the artistic strategy of a modern media product. Methodologically, the work combines intertextual and linguistic analysis, cultural commentary, and a comparison of the original English version with the Ukrainian dubbing. Particular attention is paid to the use of Latin expressions – both accurate and those containing grammatical or semantic errors – and their role in creating comedic, educational, or ironic effects. The scholarly novelty of the article lies in its focus on the linguistic dimension of classical representation, which remains underexplored in the context of animated series. For the first time, a detailed analysis is provided of linguistic strategies for integrating Latin, historical allusions, and reminiscences into the animated series, as well as instances of mistranslation or shifts in meaning. The findings demonstrate that the classical discourse in the series fulfils educational, didactic, ironic, and intertextual functions. Historical figures and events, adapted to contemporary storylines, create a distinctive cross-temporal dialogue. The use of linguistic devices – from allusions to well-known Latin maxims to parodic modifications – enhances the artistic effect and fosters cultural associations in the viewer. This approach reveals the multi-layered nature of classical interpretations in contemporary media and opens up prospects for further research into the linguistic dimension of cultural reception.

TRANSLATING OF A FRAGMENTED MILITARY POETIC TEXT INTO GERMAN: PRAGMATIC ASPECT (ON THE MATERIAL OF ARTUR PAVLENKO’S POEM «THREE»)

Liudmyla KOTVYTSKA — 2025-07-03

The article considers pragmatic aspect of rendering Artur Pavlenko's poem “Three” into German. Rendering in a foreign language of literary images and ideas encoded in signs and constituting the dialectical unity of the text of the author's military poetry, whose individual style is characterised by internal integrity despite the visual fragmentation of the word, symbolism, is a certain challenge for the translator, and such a text requires a thorough linguistic analysis at the stage of its interpretation. The military discourse in contemporary Ukrainian poetry raises the necessity of revising approaches to stylistic analysis of texts, considering their differences between military and non-military authors. The basis of this study is the German vector of the project of Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, poet and translator Volodymyr Tymchuk “In principle erat Verbum. Ukraine: Poetry of War”. The texts of civilian authors are most frequently characterised by transverse metaphorisation, suggestion or reflection. The texts of military poets are marked by polysemy, spatial and temporal fixation, suggestion, reflection, a combination of suggestion and reflection, and fragmentation of linguistic elements. Promotion of the Ukrainian cause in the free world is the result of work and an honourable mission of a translator. The degree of rendering in the translation text of the relevant meanings of the original lexical unit, and thus semantic, as well as pragmatic, shades and intralinguistic meanings, is a necessity and prerequisite for a high-quality translation. The complexity of the translation of the analysed poem lies in the need to identify the deep extra-textual meaning already at the stage of decoding information, preservation of the text’s form, since it is the key to understanding the ideal, the author's sublimation, with the help of which the addresser (author), despite the visual fragmentation of the text, achieves its internal integrity, thus realising the aesthetic function of the literary work, communicating with the addressee (reader).

TRANSLATION EDITING IN EDITORIAL STUDIES: CONCEPTUAL UNDERPINNINGS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Iryna ODREKHIVSKA — 2025-07-03

The present article delineates conceptual approaches for studying translation editing and positions the analysis of these practices within the field of editorial studies of translation. To this end, a focused historiographical analysis of key theoretical perspectives on translation editing in Ukrainian and global scholarship is undertaken, identifying key metatrends in the evolution of thought. The rationale for establishing editorial studies of translation as a distinct domain, capable of designing a more expansive editorial lens on translation, is argued. Drawing upon an editological framework, three complementary methodological lenses are developed and proposed for the comprehensive investigation of translated publications: the network-systemic, the conceptual-phenomenological, and the ideological-political. The network-systemic perspective focuses on the intersubjectivity and distributed agency inherent in the process of constructing translation edition, underscoring the multiplicity of stakeholders and their dynamic interplay. The conceptual-phenomenological framework foregrounds the dimensions of temporality, intentionality, and conceptual integration within the work on translated publications, demonstrating their influence on the final textual configuration and its subsequent reception. Within the ideological and political context of analyzing the work of an editor-compiler, we can draw upon a range of relevant perspectives, such as strategic essentialism (G.C. Spivak), the internalization of dominant ideology (the so-called “false consciousness”), subversion, and othering, as well as various others. This enables us to move beyond a purely technical and stylistic understanding of editing, revealing how the editor-compiler's choices actively shape meanings and either reproduce or challenge existing social and power relations within the text. The proposed network-systemic, conceptual-phenomenological, and ideological-political perspectives open up wide possibilities for further in-depth research into specific editorial practices, examining their multidimensional impact on translated editions.

THE WAR OF THE NARRATIVES: THE AGRESSOR’S RHETORIC AT THE BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR (BASED ON THE RUSSIAN NEWS AGENCIES’ MATERIALS IN 2014)

Lesia FEDORENKO — 2025-07-03

This research is devoted to the Russian media use of the narrative as a type of weapon in their hybrid war against Ukraine. The article aims to analyze linguistic and stylistic rhetoric specifics of the enemy narratives that followed the beginning of modern Russian-Ukrainian war in 2014, based on the materials published by Russian news agencies TASS and RIA-News. Such linguistic analysis makes it possible to understand how language and stylistic means are used by the narrator in order to deliver a certain ideological message, and how they shape perception and understanding of the world, value system and beliefs in the minds of the recipients. While studying media discourse in the context of the beginning of modern Russian-Ukrainian war, we have been pursuing two main approaches to the narrative analysis: the paradigmatic approach (based on ideas of K. Levi-Strauss), and syntagmatic approach (based on Russian folklorist V. Propp). Revisiting the works of the Russian explorer is not accidental, whereas while analyzing propagandist narratives in Russian media that actively followed events during the annexation of Crimea and partial occupation of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in 2014, we can trace analogies with “Proppian” narrative structure. It has been proven that the rhetoric of the narratives’ war during indicated period considered all possible linguistic and stylistic specifics in order to persuade and affect different audiences. It is mainly focused regarding the past, symbolism, images and myths. The interpretation of events, framing, mythologization, distortion of the historical past, creation of fakes and simulacrums, dehumanization, labeling, the binary contrast “positive-negative” (“friend-or-foe”), negative evaluative semantics and value-meaning assessment have become the main techniques. Analyzing all linguistic and cognitive technologies, techniques and methods that Russian Federation has been exploiting in the context of modern Russian-Ukrainian war via state controlled media not only will help to resist enemy’s aggression, but it will also help to avert the further Russian expansion into other European countries.

INTERACTION OF STATISTICAL AND LEXICAL-SEMANTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ADJECTIVES IN DIFFERENT SYNTACTIC FUNCTIONS IN THE ENGLISH ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING TEXTS

Ludmila SHAPA — 2025-07-03

The aim of the proposed article is to describe the results of the study concerning the interaction of statistical and lexical-semantic characteristics of adjectives in the attributive and predicative functions, which are found in the English texts referred to scientific and technical discourse. The research was based on the text corpus of the spetialty “Electrical Engineering”. The sources of the text corpus were scientific articles published in the relevant scientific journals of UK and the USA: IEEE Transactions on Power Apparatus and Systems, Proceedings of the Institution of Electrical Engineers. The total volume of the corpus is 200 thousand tokens. The analysis included three stages. The main methods used in the study were the following: literature review, contextual analysis, expert assessment method, i.e. survey of electrical specialists, statistical methods of calculation and others. The first stage involved the creation of a text corpus, compilation of a frequency dictionary of word forms (probabilistic-statistical model), selection of a list of adjectives and determination of their statistical characteristics, as well as their distribution regarding syntactic functions. A significant predominance of attributive adjectives over predicative ones was discovered. The second stage was devoted to stratification of the list of adjectives into three lexical layers, calculation of quantitative indicators of units of each lexical layer. Calculations showed that the most numerous is the commonly used layer, in second place is the general scientific layer, and the terminological layer turned out to be the most insignificant in terms of the number of lexemes. At the third stage, the interaction of statistical, lexical-semantic and grammatical characteristics of adjectives was considered. As a result, significant coincidences were found (with a small degree of exceptions), which could be caused by the undoubted dependence of the three analyzed characteristics on each other during their interaction in texts.

DISCOURSE OF SOCIAL CRISIS AS AN OBJECT OF STUDY IN MODERN LINGUISTICS

Valeriia YAHODZINSKA — 2025-07-03

The article aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the discourse of social crisis within the framework of the linguosynergetic paradigm of modern linguistics. The research seeks to identify the functional, cognitive, and semiotic mechanisms through which crisis discourse not only reflects social upheavals but also actively shapes collective narratives and models of social behavior. The methodological framework combines sociolinguistic, pragmalinguistic, and cognitivediscursive approaches with the tools of critical discourse analysis. This integrative approach enables a multidimensional interpretation of communicative processes in a crisis environment, tracing the mechanisms of self-organization of discursive structures, the legitimation of ideological narratives, and the formation of the semantics of disruption. The material of the study is English-language media discourse, which reflects the cascading changes of the communicative space during periods of social upheaval. The study offers, for the first time, a holistic analysis of the discourse of social crisis as a multimodal and transmedial phenomenon characterized by fluctuation, attractor dynamics, multivariance, emergence, fractality, heterogeneity, coherence, and interdiscursivity. It proposes to conceptualize crisis discourse in terms of linguosynergetics as a dynamic, self-organizing system capable of adapting to changes in the social environment and generating new meanings. Special attention is given to cognitive-semiotic scenarios of mass behavior emerging during social upheavals and to linguistic strategies that can either stabilize or intensify crisis phenomena. Conclusions. The findings confirm the constitutive role of social crisis discourse in shaping public consciousness, collective memory, and communicative models of overcoming crisis states. The discourse of social crisis functions as a powerful mechanism of semiotic organization of the social space, which not only records but also shapes the transformational processes of society. The linguosynergetic perspective opens new avenues for understanding the dynamics of crisis communication and for developing effective strategies of anti-crisis interaction.