PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF TRANSLATING ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

Abstract

Under the current conditions of rapid development of information technologies, globalisation and the constant growth of international communication, the study of language abbreviations, in particular acronyms and abbreviations, is becoming particularly relevant in various fields of human activity. The article discusses the theoretical foundations and practical aspects of translating abbreviated language units in various communication contexts, including the fields of information technology, medicine, education, law and international politics. The aim of the study is to provide a comprehensive analysis of modern methods of translating language abbreviations and to identify difficulties related to cultural, social and contextual differences that arise in the process of interlingual information transfer. Particular attention is paid to the impact of acronyms on the target audience’s perception of the text’s content, as well as the importance of preserving the original sociocultural subtext when translating such linguistic units. It is shown that abbreviations often carry not only an informational load, but also a specific symbolic meaning, which requires a translator to have a deep understanding of not only the language system, but also the cultural context of the source. The article analyses typical mistakes in the translation of abbreviations and acronyms and their possible impact on the accuracy, clarity and adequacy of the final text. The relevance of the work is caused by the insufficient degree of study of this issue in Ukrainian translation studies, despite the obvious need to improve professional communication against the background of digitalisation, globalisation and internationalisation of society. The article proposes a number of strategies and approaches that help to preserve semantic accuracy, communicative efficiency and stylistic conformity when translating abbreviations in a professional environment. Specific examples of successful and unsuccessful translation of abbreviations in real texts from various fields of activity are presented. The results obtained can be used in theoretical studies of translation studies, in the practical work of translators, as well as in the field of intercultural communication and specialised translation training.