A COMPARATIVE APPROACH IN TRANSLATION: FROM TERM ANALYSIS TO THE RECONSTRUCTION OF MENTAL MODELS

Abstract

The article explores the problem of translating socio-political terminology from English into Ukrainian within the framework of comparative analysis. Despite a considerable body of research in the field of translation studies, the issue of comparing the integrated terminological systems of the two languages and identifying their structural, semantic, and cognitive features remains insufficiently explored. The relevance of this study is determined by the fact that accuracy and adequacy in translating socio-political texts are crucial for preserving both the content and the communicative effect of the text.The aim of the research is to conduct a comparative analysis of English-Ukrainian socio-political terms in order to identify their parallels and divergences, as well as to develop optimal translation strategies. To achieve this aim, a range of methods was employed: comparative, descriptive, contextual, componential, conceptual, and pragmatic analyses.The article emphasizes the role of the translator’s mental model, which functions as a “third system” in the translation process and allows the integration of the knowledge of the author, translator, and recipient. The study involves the reconstruction of the translator’s mental models. It is demonstrated that individual cognitive strategies, experience, and pragmatic orientations of the translator determine the accuracy of meaning transfer. Special attention is given to difficulties related to term polysemy, semantic differentiation, and cultural peculiarities.It is concluded that contrastive analysis possesses not only theoretical but also practical value: it enables the identification of translation patterns, improves teaching methods, and facilitates the development of more effective strategies for working with terminological systems. Thus, a comprehensive approach to analyzing socio-political terms contributes to enhancing the quality and adequacy of translation.