On Typology of Pragmatic Adaptation in Specialized Translation

Abstract

The paper views pragmatic adaptation through the prism of the communicative and functional theory of translation. It substantiates the applicability of pragmatic adaptation as a translation tactic in translating not only literary but also specialized (non-fiction) texts. The relevance of this research lies in the need to identify linguistic and extralinguistic factors which determine the use of pragmatic adaptation when translating a specialized text in a certain communicative situation. Although some translation studies experts justly consider pragmatic adaptation to be a translation solution applicable at any language level, the authors of this paper share the traditional point of view which sees pragmatic adaptation as a means aimed at solving primarily lexical problems by using various translation operations (addition, omission, generalization, concretization, and substitution). This approach allows the authors to offer their own typology of pragmatic adaptation, which comprises additive, omissive, and substitutive pragmatic adaptation.