Translation of English Verbs Belonging to the Lexico-Semantic Group of Human Behavior into Russian and German (Based on W. Thackeray’s Novel “Vanity Fair”)

Abstract

This article examines the use of English verbs related to human behavior in W. Thackeray’s novel “Vanity Fair” and their translations into German and Russian. Based on the analysis of lexicographic sources, the structure of the lexico-semantic group of behavioral verbs in English, German, and Russian was analyzed. Common transformations employed to translate such verbs from English into German and Russian were identified. The most representative examples were picked from the novel. Particular attention was given to the relationship between the translation methods and each target language, as well as between the source language and the target languages. The Russian and German translations of the novel were compared for accuracy in conveying all details. Using componential analysis, a semantic classification of the selected verbs, depending on the type of behavior they describe, was compiled for the three languages. The results obtained led to the following conclusions. The behavioral verbs in W. Thackeray’s novel “Vanity Fair” are most often translated into Russian and German with literal equivalents of the original lexemes. However, lexical and grammatical substitutions were also revealed: their usage depends on grammatical structure, lexical compatibility, and linguistic standards. The German translation proved to be more plausible than the Russian one. This could be because English and German are both Germanic languages and belong to the same branch of the Indo-European language family. In the Russian translation, multiple transformations of the original text are used more often. They are meant to convey the author’s ideas rather than the exact lexicographic meanings of separate words. The findings of this study contribute to the development of the theory and practice of translation and provide a deeper insight into W. Thackeray’s worldview.