Translation of Polysemous and Synonymous Terms of the English Language: The Possibilities of a Cognitive Approach

The article describes the problem of translating polysemantic and synonymous investment terms and is studied from the perspective of cognitive linguistics, namely in the light of the prototypes theory, which presupposes the identification of the content core as the best representative of the word's semantics. The subject of the research are the semantic processes taking place in the English term system reflecting investment activity. By the example of the research of term dealer and its synonyms broker and agent, the authors have defined that the meanings of polysemantic and synonymous terms are not isolated, but are united by a meaningful core and develop according to the laws of semantic derivation based on the common language nominative-non-derivative meaning. The authors found that the reduction of translation failures in the transfer of terms is possible due to the competent use of the cognitive context and the correct definition of the content core of the terminological unit. The research is carried out by means of such methods as the prototypical semantics method, a definitional and component analysis. When identifying the content core of a polysemantic term it is first of all necessary to define the average primary meaning of this term on the basis of dictionary definitions. As a result, the most frequent meaning is determined. Then etymological analysis of the meaning is carried out. At the next stage, in order to model the cognitive image of a word, contextual analysis is performed, and metaphorical comparisons are investigated. Based on the obtained data, a content core of the term is formulated generalizing all the derived meanings and demonstrating their connections. The results obtained allow the authors to prove that the meanings of polysemantic and synonymous terms are connected by a single content core and are developed on the basis of a common linguistic meaning. The practical value of the scientific research is in the possibility to use the results of the work in lexicographic practice when compiling terminological dictionaries, and when writing university courses in terminology and translation studies. The identification of a content core is necessary while translating polysemantic and synonymous terms, because it reveals the meaning of the term in the context and defines the choice of a right translation variant.

Revisie in vertaling: wanneer en wat

Translators often go through their texts several times before considering their translations ‘done’. In most translation process research the different runs through the text after producing a draft version of the translation are considered as a single revision stage of the translation process. If, however, the factor time is taken into account, it might be expected that the revision activities a translator performs differ in nature and function depending on the moment where they occur during the translation process. The present article is a search for describing and understanding revision processes based on this view. Revision activities in the think-aloud protocols of five translators are analysed with regard to cognitive context and text processing characteristics. Results show that there is little evidence that revision activities vary during the translation process. Revision activities seem to occur at random throughout the translation process and appear to be triggered locally.

The Metaphorical Interpretation of English and Chinese Body-part Idioms Based on Relevance Theory

As a special language coding way and language phenomenon, metaphor is an important form when humans use language in communication. However, metaphorical mappings are not arbitrary. They are based on our physical experience of the world around us. Idioms are the crystallization of human language and culture and play an important role in human communication. The idiomatic meaning is not simply the sum of the lexical meanings, but often the metaphorical meaning extended from the literal meaning. The paper is based on the relevance theory proposed by Sperber and Wilson (1995), adopts the methods of comparative analysis and text analysis, and takes the idioms of “body metaphor” contained in English and Chinese as the main research object to explore the following questions: 1. What is the interpretation model of the “body-part metaphors” in idioms? 2. In English and Chinese idioms, what are the similarities and differences in the use and interpretation of body-part metaphors? Firstly, the idioms of body-part metaphor are classified based on their projection types, then analyzing the projection methods of each type. Finally, through the new reasoning model guided by relevance theory to analyze the reasoning process of body-part metaphor in English and Chinese idioms, exploring the importance of cognitive context in the interpretation of body-part idioms.

Ways for Conceptualization of the Space Area Introduced by the Preposition dans (Based on the French language)

The ways for conceptualization of the area of space as a part of the nominal combinations via the French spatial preposition dans as the physical space and the conceptual space are studied in the article; the terms physical space and conceptual space are determined like realities of being and fundamental cultural concepts; the conceptual content of the preposition dans is formulated through the analysis of the spatial constructions. The problem of studying the semantics of the preposition dans in French is still relevant. Large number of works, primarily foreign researchers, who in their works refer to the specifics of cognitive and linguocultural analysis of ways of conceptualizing spaces by French speakers using the preposition dans is the confirmation of the topicality of the article. The perception of space and spatial relationships in each culture occurs in a special way, which is reflected in the language. According to cognitologists, the process of conceptualization depends on a person’s personal perception of the space. The considered cases of various ways of conceptualization allowed us to conclude that the way of conceptualizing the relatum both as a physical and as a conceptual space is explained by the influence of the cognitive context on the perception of a region of space. As the study has shown, it is the cognitive context that creates the basis for the use of lexical categories, with the help of which the interpretation of knowledge about the world occurs in the future. In our case, the interpretation of spatial relations between objects as part of the analyzed structures is facilitated by the cognitive context using the preposition dans.

Why Is Rehabilitation Assistance Policy for Children With Disabilities Deviated in Supply-Demand? A Case Study in Mainland China

Children with disabilities have most potential for salvage rehabilitation, and their rehabilitation results are concerned with their entire life process. Although, the Chinese state has established a targeted Rehabilitation Assistance System for Disabled Children and has expanded the provision of rehabilitation services, a severe deviation between supply and demand remains. Existing studies have focused relatively more on policy content and less on the policy context, at the macro-structural level. However, using the case of the ZW Rehabilitation Center in City J, this study divided the deviation into exclusion errors and inclusion errors, and used the policy context approach to explore the reasons for the deviation. We found that the behaviors of the participants in rehabilitation services exist in a dynamic interaction between the regulatory context, the normative context, and the cognitive context. The joint forces of the three contexts produce both exclusion errors and inclusion errors, which are the underlying reasons for the inaccurate execution of the targeted policy. The results of this research can provide enlightenment for improving rehabilitation policy.

Legal policy of the third reich

In the present study, an attempt was made to analyze the activities of "Lebensborn" (source of life), established under the auspices of SS reichsfuhrer G. Himmler, whose task was to fundamentally improve the racial characteristics of the German nation. The ultimate goal of this policy was the development of a flawless racial superman who was considered one of the most important factors in securing Nazi Germany's world domination. The Lebensborn phenomenon is considered in a broad cognitive context in the cognitive understanding of the mechanism for legitimizing Nazi legal policy, considering the characteristics of the legal and political culture of the Third Reich ideology. Using a wide range of archival documents, including the Lebensborn Charter, as well as research publications, the authors identified and analyzed the organization's main orientations and results. The special focus is on the creation in the third Reich of Lebensborn specialized parent houses, in addition, the second is considered in the context of the legitimacy of racial legal policies.

Propositional Frame-Based Analysis of the Semantics of Proverbs of the Russian and Chinese Languages (Based on Frame Father – Son)

Propositional frame-based modeling is one of the most effective methods of cognitive linguistics. This method considers the interaction between the semantic and cognitive aspects of units of two typologically different languages, e.g. Russian and Chinese, in order to study the way language structures and reflects human knowledge and experience. Propositional structures are the same for all languages, but they are implemented differently in every language. The authors used the propositional frame-based analysis to identify universal and specific aspects in the semantics of proverbs based on frame father – son, which is an important fragment of the Russian and Chinese linguistic world view. The cognitive potential of paroemiological units is enormous: proverbs reflect historical, cultural, linguistic, and extralinguistic cognitive experience. Cognitivists define experience as one’s knowledge about stereotypical situations, stored in one’s mind as frames. A frame is a collection of vertex ("top") and terminal ("low") components. Vertex components are formed by concepts that are valid in relation to the stereotypical situation of the frame. As a result, they are clearly structured and constant. The "low level" is not constant, and its terminals are variable. The semantics of the proverbs in question were represented by frames. The meanings of their components formed a common and complex situation. Knowledge about this situation made it possible to perceive the meaning of each proverb in a holistic way. The proverbs could be interpreted as units that activate a certain cognitive context about the content and structure of the concepts father and son in Russian and Chinese.

REVELATION OF COGNITIVE CONTEXT IN PRE-INTERPRETATION ANALYSIS OF A LITERARY TEXT

The present research discusses the significance of the cognitive interpretation of conceptual information in belles-lettres as a key element in the process of revelation of implicit information veiled by the author. The adequate interpretation of cognitive context affects deeper understanding of the author’s intention and explicates the general idea of a literary text. Moreover, it may help to reveal some characteristic features of the personages or author’s modality related to the described events. Several approaches, which emphasize the correlation between research methods of cognitive linguistics, literary studies, and interpretation of a literary text were observed in the article. The analysis was implemented with the attraction of such research methods as observation, linguistic description, and method of contextual analysis. It was assumed that such phenomenon as intertextuality and, in particular, allusion, plays an important role in constructing the conceptual structure of belles-lettres text. The selected examples justified the main conclusions, which were obtained at the end of the present research.

What young people say about impulsivity in the short-term build up to self-harm: A qualitative study using card-sort tasks

Youth who self-harm report high levels of trait impulsivity and identify impulsive behaviour as a proximal factor directly preceding a self-harm act. Yet, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and distinct impulsivity-related facets relate differentially to self-harm outcomes. Studies have yet to examine if and how a multidimensional account of impulsivity is meaningful to individual experiences and understandings of self-harm in youth. We explored the salience and context of multidimensional impulsivity within narratives of self-harm, and specifically in relation to the short-term build-up to a self-harm episode. Fifteen community-based adolescents (aged 16–22 years) attending Further Education (FE) colleges in the UK took part in individual face-to-face sessions (involving exploratory card-sort tasks and semi-structured interviews) which explored factors relating to self-harm, impulsivity and the broader emotional, developmental and cognitive context. Session data were analysed thematically. Two overarching themes, and associated subthemes, were identified: ‘How I respond to strong negative emotions’; and ‘Impulse versus deliberation- How much I think through what I’m doing before I do it’. Self-harm was typically a quick, impulsive act in the context of overwhelming emotion, underpinned by cognitive processing deficits. The dynamic tension between emotion-based impulsivity and controlled deliberation was articulated in the immediate moments before self-harm. However, impulsive responses were perceived as modifiable. Where self-harm patterns were established, these related to habitual behaviour and quick go-to responses. Young people identified with a multidimensional conception of impulsivity and described the impulsive context of a self-harm act as dynamic, contextual, and developmentally charged. Findings have implications for youth-focused work. Card-task frameworks are recommended to scaffold and facilitate discussion with young people, particularly where topics are sensitive, complex and multifactorial.