PROBLEMS OF TRANSLATING THE FRAME STRUCTURE OF THE CONCEPT “HOUSE” IN SLAVIC LANGUAGES

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of the concept of «home/house» (dim/dom) in three Slavic languages – Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian – focusing on its frame structure, lexical-semantic features, cultural connotations, and translation issues. The theoretical framework of cognitive frame analysis of concepts is outlined, identifying the key components of the “home” concept (notional, evaluative, and imagery components). The linguistic manifestations of the concept in Ukrainian, Polish, and Russian are compared, including basic vocabulary (lexemes such as dim, khata, dom), phraseological units (e.g. “at home even the walls help”), and metaphorical models (for instance, personification of the home as a living being). Culturally specific aspects of the concept in each language community are analyzed: the Ukrainian image of the native khata as the spiritual center of the family, the Polish stereotype of the dom as a symbol of family and national identity (from the noble manor to the modern home), and Russian notions of the home hearth and the communal living experience (kommunalka). The paper discusses challenges in translating elements of the “home” frame between these languages, particularly conveying culture-loaded terms (khata, dwór, kommunalka), achieving equivalence of proverbs and idioms, and choosing the appropriate lexeme (e.g. dim vs khata) in translation. The study concludes that “home” is a universal basic concept with a common core meaning (association with family, security, and belonging), yet it exhibits culture-specific nuances in each language. Translation insights confirm the importance of accounting for the frame structure of this concept to ensure translation adequacy.