LEXICAL GAPS IN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN LEGAL TERMINOLOGY

Abstract

The article deals with the phenomenon of gaps in legal terminology of the English language from the point of view of its Russian translation. The author analyzes the approaches to understanding lexical gaps. Examples of terminological gaps have been selected from English-English explanatory dictionaries. The selected terminological units have no equivalents in legal terminology of the Russian language. The study reveals the role of the commentary in rendering the meaning of terminological gaps. While considering the factors determining the existence of gaps, the author pays attention to both linguistic and extra-linguistic factors. The research revealed a number of lexical gaps among the terms of international law. English-Russian termninological dictionaries in some cases contain the explanations of notional gaps. The use of transliteration is a signal of notional gap. The conclusion is made about the connection between the perception of gaps and the structures of one’s mother tongue. The social and historical character of the gaps under study has been proved to be well-grounded. The author emphasizes the importance of detailed definitions for adequate rendering of the gaps.