LEXICAL AND STYLISTIC FEATURES OF TRANSLATION OF AMERICAN SPORTS JARGON

Abstract

The article deals with lexical and stylistic features of translation of American sports jargon. The author substantiates relevance of the research and provides major factors for the study of sports jargon. Basic features of American sports jargon and its functions have been described. The process of converting terms into jargon in sports discourse has been revealed. The following major feature of the use of sports jargon in discourse haven described: concise lexical form, expressiveness, sociolinguistic factors. Basic principles of sports jargon translation have been suggested. The author emphasizes the following methods of translation: equivalent, descriptive translation, transcoding, calque, adaptation. The choice of the translation methods depends of the context, the kind of sport, and stylistic coloring. Using equivalent and adaptation translation have been suggested as the most appropriate methods. Contexts and situations, in which certain methods of translation should be applied have been analyzed and described. Irregular types of American sports jargon have been studied. Specifically, the author talks about jargon with the use of proper names (names of athletes and geographical names). Examples of this type of sports jargon in sentences have been provided. Word-formation principles and meaning of specific types of sport jargon have been analyzed. The author suggests Ukrainian equivalents to such words and phrases. Emotional and coloring aspects of the use of American sports jargon have been revealed. Examples and choice strategies for certain translation of jargon have been analyzed. Attention should be specifically paid to the style of speech (emotional coloring) and the context (translation source). The following general requirements to translators and approaches to translation of American sports jargon have been singled out: to preserve the image/emotion; to choose a correct equivalent; to know the specifics of sports discourse and the kind of sport a translator works with; to be able to select an equivalent from a kind of sport that is popular in the society that speaks target language. Prospects of further research have been provided.