Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigates semantic changes in financial and economic texts translated between English and Uzbek using a mixed-methods approach. A collection of relevant texts was compiled and analyzed according to various types of equivalence, including formal, dynamic, pragmatic, contextual, and functional equivalence. The findings reveal that semantic changes, such as broadening, narrowing, pejoration, and amelioration, play a crucial role in adapting words to evolving social, cultural, and technological conditions. Semantic broadening is exemplified by terms like “blockchain”, which has expanded from its original meaning in cryptocurrency to encompass various industries. Conversely, semantic narrowing is observed in words like “market”, which has become more specific in financial contexts. Pejoration occurs when neutral lexical units acquire negative connotations, as seen in the use of animal metaphors like “shark” and “vulture” to describe aggressive financial behaviors. Amelioration, on the other hand, involves words gaining more positive meanings, such as “investment” and “reform”, reflecting changes in societal perceptions. The study highlights the importance of context in shaping word semantics and the role of evaluative meaning in financial and economic texts. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in achieving equivalence in translation and the significance of semantic changes in adapting language to evolving contexts.
Author: Shokhida Abdullaeva
Institution: Uzbek State University of World Languages
Language: English
Subfield: Language and Linguistics
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4406770818