THE AGENCY OF TRANSLATION IN POLITICS AND FICTION: TEXTUAL CASES OF RUSSIA'S FULL-SCALE INVASION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

Background. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia has not left unaffected the field of language, ranging from changes in the perception of the Russian and Ukrainian languages and the emergence of new lexemes pertinent to the new realities. While copious amounts of research have already been dedicated to the issues delineated above, relatively little attention has so far been paid to relevant translation issues. Given the complex background of Russia-Ukraine relations, such issues are manifested across different domains, including that of literature and politics – which, it can be argued, sometimes intersect. The paper seeks to fill the gap in the study of the linguistic aspects of the ongoing Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine through the medium of translation. Methods. Drawing upon previous extensive research of the role of translation in the faithful rendering of political and literary discourses in the wider historical context of Russia-Ukraine relations, the authors employ discourse analysis and case studies to delineate some of the key challenges presenting themselves before a translator in communicating to global English-speaking audiences. Results. It is posited that translation issues regarding the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia are inextricably related to the historical background of the two countries' relations and is to be taken into consideration in order to produce a faithful rendition from and into English. The ongoing hostilities have also brought to the fore the use of newly emerging lexemes and the issues of their translation for English-speaking audiences. Conclusions. The research invites further discussion of the impact of war on linguistics and translation, including normalisation of the pejorative discourse vis-à-vis the perceived enemy and the concept of 'mockslation', suggested here to describe new lexemes arising from intentional or unintentional deficiencies in translation.