ON THE ISSUE OF PERSONIFICATIONS TRANSLATION PECULIARITIES IN LITERARY DISCOURSE (BASED ON THE NOVEL “REBECCA” BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER)

К ВОПРОСУ ОБ ОСОБЕННОСТЯХ ПЕРЕВОДА ОЛИЦЕТВОРЕНИЙ В ХУДОЖЕСТВЕННОМ ДИСКУРСЕ (НА ОСНОВЕ РОМАНА «РЕБЕККА» ДАФНЫ ДЮМОРЬЕ)

Ильюшина Елизавета Денисовна,

магистрант, кафедра теории и практики иностранных языков, Российский университет дружбы народов имени Патриса Лумумбы,

РФ, г. Москва

ABSTRACT

The article explores the peculiarities of rendering personifications from English into Russian in literary text, focusing on the novel “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier. Translation of stylistic devices in literary works represents a rather challenging task, since the artistic kernel and sense of these means in the original text may not coincide with those in the target language. Consequently, this problem rises the significance of using translation transformations for the purpose of maintaining the initial artistic image and sense of stylistic devices in the target language. Personifications are the essential tool while creating mystical ambience in the scope of the novel presented. Therefore, the correct transfer of these artistic units into Russian directly depends on the adept use of certain translation techniques. The study encompasses the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the novel’s extracts, containing personifications, and their translation into the Russian language by means of specific lexical, grammatical, and complex transformations, as well as their subsequent justification.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В данной статье рассматриваются особенности перевода олицетворений в художественном тексте с английского языка на русский, на примере романа «Ребекка» Дафны Дюморье. Перевод стилистических приемов в рамках художественных произведений представляет собой весьма непростую задачу, поскольку смысл и образная составляющая данных языковых средств в тексте оригинала могут не совпадать с таковыми в принимающем языке. Следовательно, использование переводческих трансформаций становится существенно важной мерой, позволяющей сохранить первоначальный художественный образ и смысл стилистических приемов в языке перевода. В контексте представленного романа, олицетворения являются важнейшим инструментом при создании автором мистической атмосферы. Соответственно, грамотная передача данных художественных единиц на русский язык напрямую зависит от умелого применения определенных переводческих трансформаций. В исследовании применяются методы количественного и качественного анализа примеров с олицетворениями из романа, их перевод на русский язык с использованием конкретных лексических, грамматических и лексико-грамматических трансформаций, а также с их последующим обоснованием.

Keywords: literary translation, translation techniques, stylistic devices, translation of personifications, literary discourse.

Ключевые слова: художественный перевод, переводческие трансформации, стилистические приемы, перевод олицетворений, художественный дискурс.

Introduction

There is no doubt that literary translation represents a rather complex process in comparison to other forms of the text interpretation. This kind of translation involves not only the transmission of the content from the source language into the target one but also implies a special attitude of a translator towards the author’s personal style. In the process of interpreting a literary text, it is essential to place an emphasis on the pragmatic task, particularly, the aesthetic influence on the reader that the author “achieves by using various artistic techniques that are more suitable for creating the necessary emotional effect” [6, c. 41]. In this case, the role of stylistic techniques and devices is crucial, since they enhance the artistic value of the whole literary work, appending a certain degree of expressiveness and figurativeness.

It is worth mentioning that stylistic devices translation represents a challenging task because the figures of speech of the source language do not always coincide with those presented in the text of the target one in terms of structure and artistic concept. Consequently, translation strategies become necessary tools, allowing to interpreter the author’s stylistic devices without the loss of the initial essence and artistic framing.

The study focuses on the ways of translating personifications in the novel “Rebecca” by Daphne Du Maurier. Personification is regarded as a literary device, which attributes human traits and characteristics to no-human subjects [4]. Sometimes, this stylistic device is “referred as an anthropomorphic metaphor <…> a type of metaphor” [2, p. 131]. In the scope of the novel, personification becomes a key figure of speech that allows to convey the mystical atmosphere by instilling the manor Manderley and its surroundings with human features.

Methodology

The central point of linguistic inquiry is the usage of translation strategies in the process of translating personifications, used in the novel “Rebecca”,  from English into Russian by G. A. Ostrovskaya. The classification of translation transformations by V. N. Komissarov is taken as the basis. The study includes the application of quantitative and qualitative analysis. Both methods are interrelated and allow to observe the frequency of using certain types of translation strategies, as well as the reasons for implementing such techniques towards personifications of the source text.

Results and findings

In the scope of Daphne Du Maurier’s novel, 40 vivid examples of personifications were carefully regarded. Comparing the original examples to the translated versions of G. A. Ostrovskaya, one can see the predominance of lexical transformations towards the stylistic means mentioned, compiling 56%.

The employment of grammatical transformations among the examples regarded counts 28%. It is important to mention that these translation strategies usually go side by side with the lexical transformations, as a necessary addition for shaping the structure of the original text to better fit the Russian language realities.

As for the usage of complex transformations in the process of interpreting personifications, it compiles 16%. These conversions, employed by G. A. Ostrovskaya, are rarely seen as separate translation techniques and usually come in conjunction with grammatical and particularly lexical transformations. The overall percentage of certain techniques is presented on the Diagram 1.:

Diagram 1. The Overall Usage of Translation Transformations towards Personifications Interpretation

It is worth mentioning the fact that each group of translation transformations possesses concrete techniques, which are the most frequently used while interpreting personifications. Thus, in the novel “Rebecca”, modulation holds the prior place among the lexical transformations, grammatical substitution prevails over the others grammatical conversions, and compensation predominates among the complex translation strategies. One should consider these aspects in a more detailed way.

1. Modulation

Modulation represents the replacement of a word or phrase of the source language by a unit of the target language, which meaning is logically derived from that of the source unit [5, p. 177]. Consequently, this translation transformation assumes certain causal relations between the units of the source language and the target one.

It is worth mentioning that modulation is the most frequently used translation strategy in the novel “Rebecca” when concerning the personifications interpretation. It is employed in 24 cases, which is equal to 60,5% among other lexical transformations, such as generalization, specification, etc. One should regard the following vivid example:

Table 1.

The Use of Modulation

If using literal translation, the initial phrase would be interpreted as зияли одиноко, but in this case G. A. Ostrovskaya employes modulation in order to transmit the consequences of loneliness, namely the external manifestation of this feeling. Such technique helps to reflect the metaphorical kernel of the personification gaped forlorn and to append some element of mystery, typical for the gothic novel.

2. Grammatical substitution

In case of grammatical substitution, one grammatical unit of the source language is replaced by another one in the target language [5]. This adaptation is necessary when the grammatical structures of both texts regarded do not coincide. Concerning personifications of the examples considered, this translation strategy is used in 12 cases, equal to 57% of other grammatical transformations, namely grammatical division and literal translation. It is ought to consider the following example:

Table 2.

The Use of Grammatical Substitution

In this case one can ensure that grammatical substitution is employed in correlation with modulation, which is reflected in the Russian language verb одичал. The function of grammatical substitution itself is showcased in changing the complex construction had obeyed…even as the woods had done into the more simple and rhythmical construction with homogeneous predicates одичал, подчинился, which is more suitable and natural for the Russian language readers.

3. Compensation

In case of compensation, the elements of meaning, lost in the process of translating a unit of the source language, are transmitted in the target language by some other means, not necessarily in the same place as in the original text [5]. Among other complex transformations, such as antonymic translation and explication, compensation is used in 5 cases, compiling 42%. It is essential to consider the following prominent example:

Table 3.

The Use of Compensation

As it has already been stated, the method of compensation in the Russian language translation by G. A. Ostrovskaya usually goes side by side with lexical or grammatical transformations, and this example is not the exception. Nevertheless, focusing on the compensation technique, it is skillfully employed to convey the image of the merry wind and his concrete action (whipped white) that might be lost in the Russian language interpretation. As the result of using compensation, the initial personification turns into the phrase весело гуляли барашки, which perfectly conjures the image of scallops on the waves.

Conclusion

To conclude, the personifications translation in a literary discourse demands special attention and certain degree of intuition from the side of a translator. In this case, translation transformations become essential tools that help to perfectly adapt stylistic devices of the original text for the Russian language readers.

Even though personifications do not possess the same degree of abstractness as metaphors, they still need the redefinition of the form to better fit the target language translation. This phenomenon explains the reasons of the lexical transformations’ excessive usage, namely modulation, in relation to personifications translation.

As for the grammatical substitution, it represents a suitable method when the initial grammatical form of the phrase does not accurately coincide with the language norms of the target literary discourse. Concerning personifications translation, such grammatical strategy helps to restore the initial sense and artistic image of the original text that might not fit the Russian language and consequently be lost.

Regarding the usage of complex translation transformations, it helps to reconsider the essence of stylistic devices in the source text with the subsequent implementation of these artistic means in the translated text in that form and place, which better correspond to the norms of the target language.

References:

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2. Babayev, J. Personification and its Difference from Other Similar Stylistic Devices [site] // European Scientific Conference. URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366399585_PERSONIFICATION_AND_ITS_DIFFERENCE_FROM_OTHER_SIMILAR_STYLISTIC_DEVICES (access date : 29.10.25)
3. Du Maurier, D. Rebecca. London: Vigaro Press, 2015. 512 p.
4. Kennedy, A. Personification in Literature [site] // EBSCO Knowledge Advantage. URL: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/literature-and-writing/personification-literature#bibliography (access date : 29.10.25)
5. Komissarov, V. N. Theory of Translation (linguistical aspects). Moscow: Flinta, 2009. - 253 p.
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