Multiple Equivalence in “Polish-Russian Dictionary of Translation Pairs”

Abstract

This article provides an overview of multiple equivalence presentations in "Polish-Russian Dictionary of Translation Pairs" ("Polsko-rosyjski słownik par przekładowych") edited by Wojciech Chlebda, which provides more than one Russian equivalent for a Polish lexical item. The uniqueness of the dictionary is in its arrangement that is re-product functioning as a dictionary entry, which determines its choice for analysis. "Re-product" is understood as a single-word or multi-word reproducible language item assigned to specific communicative situations. Such a broad definition allowed including a wide variety of items – from single words, through fixed phrases, proper names, titles of literary works and films, popular expressions, proverbs and sayings, scientific terms, linguistic etiquette formulas – into the lexicographical edition under analysis. In the course of the dictionary content multi-aspectual analysis it became evident that its input item arrangement is based on multiple equivalence; moreover, the dictionary provides meticulously selected equivalents, meeting at the same time the main conceptual requirement related to the use of the collected material for the purposes of teaching Russian. However, the analysis also revealed certain shortcomings to light, pointing to the need for a more precise gradation of equivalents and more accurate use of qualifiers, and requirement to provide some translation pairs with additional equivalents. In single cases, other (than those included in the dictionary) Russian equivalents were suggested.