The problem of translating the verbal component of political cartoons in English, Russian and French

OBAMA FRANCK DONALD Student; Faculty of Philology; P. Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia The Messenger; Ararat Park Hyatt 117198, Russia, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 13, 404 1032185893@pfur.ru

Lazareva Olesya Viktorovna ORCID: 0000-0002-1227-4493 PhD in Philology Associate Professor; Department of General and Russian Linguistics; P. Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 6 Miklukho-Maklaya str., Obruchevsky district, Moscow, 117198, Russia lazareva-ov@rudn.ru

Introduction

1. The degree of study of the issue

In the framework of the study, political caricature is understood as a genre of visual art in which political figures, events or social phenomena are ridiculed. In the context of this study, special attention is paid to the verbal component of a political cartoon as a key element of a polycode text. It is he who poses the greatest difficulty in translation, since he closely interacts with the visual part and requires deep consideration of cultural, historical and linguistic contexts. According to a number of researchers, political caricature is a powerful tool of social criticism ^{[19, p. 151]}. She uses hyperbole and satire to expose the absurdity of political decisions and actions. For example, caricatures of famous politicians highlight their shortcomings and, thus, contribute to the formation of a conscious attitude of citizens towards the authorities.

Other authors emphasize that political caricature is a reflection of the cultural and historical contexts in which it is created ^{[4, p. 14]}. In other words, the perception of cartoons can vary depending on cultural traditions, the political situation and the media environment. In this vein, the caricature acts as an indicator of public opinion, capturing the mood of the masses and their reaction to political changes.

In scientific research devoted to political linguistics, several key functions are highlighted, the loss of which in the process of translation can lead to a noticeable degradation of the political text.

The first function is social control, which implies the manipulation of mass consciousness, such as the use of rhetorical techniques to shape public opinion in a certain direction.

The second function is the legitimization of power, which includes the reasoning of government decisions, for example, in the allocation of budget funds, which is necessary to maintain public trust.

The third function, the reproduction of power, is aimed at strengthening public commitment to the existing system, which can be illustrated by the media, which contributes to the formation of a positive image of the ruling elite.

The fourth function is orientation, which involves the creation and consolidation in the public consciousness of certain guidelines and goals of political activity, which can be seen on the example of the election programs of the parties.

The fifth function, social consolidation, is aimed at uniting various groups of society that resist negative social factors.

The sixth function, the agonal one, is associated with the emergence of social conflict and protest against the actions of the authorities, which is manifested in protest actions and social movements.

And the last function, the action function, is carried out through the organization of events to mobilize supporters of the government and divert the attention of opposition-minded groups, which is perfectly demonstrated by political campaigns and mass rallies ^{[11, p. 22]}.

One of the key features of the verbal component of the polycode text of a political cartoon is the problem of adequate translation, which is a particularly difficult task. This factor is primarily related to the fact that verbal elements and iconic (pictorial) components are not just located in the text space, but interact with each other, creating a multi-layered meaning that cannot be correctly conveyed by simple translation ^{[22, p. 45]}. Due to this close interweaving of meanings, the translator is faced with the need to take into account not only the lexical and grammatical side of the original, but also cultural contexts, irony, as well as the emotional coloring inherent in a particular caricature. This interaction of elements requires special decoding and interpretation skills from the translator, which emphasizes the importance of an integrated approach to the analysis of political cartoons and their translations.

The key point to emphasize is the dual nature of caricature. As noted by Yu.A. Sorokin, "caricatures can be both visual and verbal signs, each of which performs its own function in creating a semantic image," which emphasizes the need to take into account the context when translating ^{[22, p. 45]}.

It is also worth noting that one of the main challenges of translation is cultural specificity. Each verbal element of the cartoon often frames certain cultural and political realities. For example, O.A. Voronina states: "Understanding and adequate translation of cultural references are necessary conditions for preserving the original meaning" and shows that a translator must be not only a linguist, but also a cultural mediator ^{[4, p. 14]}.

In addition, the style and rhetorical techniques used in caricatures play an important role. A.P. Chudinov emphasizes: "The analysis and translation of rhetorical figures can significantly affect the perception of the text," which requires the translator's combinatorial thinking and creativity to convey the irony, satire and other nuances of the original ^{[20, p. 56]}.

Another important aspect is the visual component. As M.B. Voroshilova notes, "the visual part of a caricature can enhance or change the meaning of verbal elements" ^{[5, p. 73]}. Thus, ignoring the visual context can lead to loss of significance or distortion of the author's idea.

2. The degree of translatability of the polycode text

In accordance with one of the main objectives of our research, the development of a classification of the types of translatability of the verbal component, the author's typology is further proposed based on the degree of translation difficulties. It includes three categories: fully translatable elements, partially translatable ones, as well as cases requiring additional explanations. According to the degree of translatability of the verbal component of the polycode text, to which the political cartoon belongs, can be divided into three main groups.

Let's consider this typology based on the material of Russian, English and French.

2.1. the verbal component, translated in full

Let's look at examples of translating the verbal component of the polycode text of a political cartoon.

1. Russian language. Cartoon: An image of a Russian politician with a poster "The best times are ahead!". The verbal component here is explicit and easily translatable. The phrase "Better times are ahead!" carries a positive charge and is an ironic comment on the political situation.

English translation: "The best times are ahead!". The translation was carried out in full, while preserving the meaning and subtext. Intonation is preserved due to the equivalent positive wording, which allows you to convey irony.

2. English.

Caricature: The politician holding the sign "Business as usual" during the crisis. The phrase "Business as usual" is used to describe a situation where an external crisis is ignored. This expression implies the lightness of the problem, which enhances the satirical effect.

Translation into Russian: "As usual." The translation is adequate in meaning and style. Despite the fact that the phrase "As usual" may sound less expressive, it retains an ironic subtext, which allows you to convey the main idea of the original.

3. French language.

Caricature: A politician with the inscription "C'est pas moi!" (It's not me!), indicating the embezzlement of funds. The phrase "C'est pas moi!" is a common way to avoid responsibility. This expression is rich in context and strongly echoes the cultural realities of France, where the responsibility of politicians is often questioned.

Translation into Russian: »It's not me!" The translation fully reflects the original meaning of the phrase and its mocking context. The meaning and intonation remain unchanged, which is important for the feeling of caricature. Thus, in each example, the translation of the verbal component is performed in full, which allows you to preserve the original meaning and stylistic features. The key aspect is the need for a careful approach to the cultural characteristics and context of phrases, which ensures an adequate and expressive translation. Maintaining the level of irony and specificity of the language is important for the transmission and semantic load of a polycode text.

b) a verbal component that is partially translated

1. Russian language. Cartoon: An image of a politician standing on a mountain with the inscription "Those who don't take risks don't drink champagne," while his feet get stuck in a swamp. The verbal component is an ironic quote that is used to show that politics can lead to difficult consequences. The phrase has a positive connotation, but the visual context destroys it, creating a contradiction.

English translation: «Those who don’t take risks can’t drink champagne». In this case, the partial translation retains the sound of the original phrase, but loses the visual context, which makes the caricature ironic. The translation does not focus on the visual metaphor of getting stuck in a swamp, which reduces the effect.

2. English. Caricature:

A politician with an inscription: "We will fix it!" against the backdrop of crumbling buildings. The phrase "We will fix it!" is an optimistic promise, but the context depicts an anecdotal reality where the words do not correspond to what is happening. This contrast creates a comical effect.

Translation into Russian: "We'll fix it!" The partial translation allows for the preservation of the main idea, but does not convey the visual context of the destroyed buildings, which weakens the satire. The logic of the paintings does not match the optimistic promises, and this is important for understanding the caricature.

3. French language. Caricature: a politician with a sign "Promis!" (Promised!), standing against the background of the protesters. The word "Promis!" is used to express an irresponsible promise. The visual context highlights the gap between the politician's statements and the reality in which he finds himself.

Translation into Russian: "Promised!". Although the translation retains the main meaning, it loses the emotional burden associated with the image of the protesters, which leads to misunderstandings and reduces the satirical effect. Important nuances related to society and the political situation remain unclaimed.

Thus, comparing the above examples, it can be concluded that a partial translation of the verbal component in the polycode text of a political cartoon can lead to a loss of semantic load if the visual context is not taken into account. To fully understand the caricature, it is necessary to refer to such components as visual elements and cultural references that ensure a full perception of the original.

c) the verbal component, translated with considerable difficulty and the need to use common explanations

1. Russian language. Caricature: A politician standing in front of a large crowd of people with a placard "We are all in the same boat!" against a background where sunken boats can be seen. The phrase "We are all in the same boat!" suggests unity and joint efforts. However, the visual context and the sunken boats create a satirical effect, indicating that the situation is actually extremely deplorable. This expression has both positive and negative meanings. In such cases, the translation retains its general meaning, but loses important visual or cultural references, which requires special care on the part of the translator.

English translation: «We are all in the same boat!». Here it is necessary to add an explanation that the image of the boat symbolizes unity, as the context is replete with ironic overtones. It should be clarified that the cartoon shows that the boats have already sunk, which changes the meaning. The translation of the phrase retains its literal meaning, but requires clarification of the context so that readers understand the irony and criticism inherent in the image.

2. English. Caricature: a politician with the inscription "I'll make America great again!" against the background of people standing in line for groceries. The phrase "I'll make America great again!" is a slogan saturated with cultural significance and used in a real political campaign. However, the visual context where people are queuing indicates existing social problems and unjustified expectations.

Translation into Russian: "I will make America great again!" Here it is necessary to point out that the slogan has become a symbol of a certain political era, and also explain that the food queue highlights the discrepancy between promise and reality.

3. French language. Caricature: a politician with a sign "On fait des promesses!" (Making promises!) against the background of destroyed roads and protesting citizens. The phrase "On fait des promesses!" expresses an ordinary political approach to this issue, but against the background of the visual context — the protesting crowd and the destroyed roads — its significance becomes problematic. The slogan also plays against the background of one of the most widely used expressions in politics.

Translation into Russian: "We make promises!" The translation requires adding context to the fact that this is a common expression in the political arena, in contrast to the fact that the image shows that these promises are not fulfilled and lead to popular discontent.

The above examples demonstrate that the translation of the verbal component of the polycode text of a political cartoon can be fraught with significant difficulties, requiring additional explanations to achieve a complete understanding. Without such a context, the reader may not catch the satirical subtext and cultural references, which minimizes the effect of the original. Such cases clearly demonstrate the need for in-depth knowledge of culture, context, and historical realities, since a literal translation is unable to convey the full communicative and satirical function of the original.

Conclusion

Studying the problem of translating the verbal component of the polycode text of a political cartoon using the example of Russian, English and French shows that the translation of these verbal elements is associated with various difficulties affecting both linguistic features and cultural context.

In each of the analyzed examples, it becomes obvious that the situations depicted in the cartoons often contrast optimistic or neutral phrases with gloomy or ironic visual components, which creates a duality of meaning that requires the translator to pay attention and a deep understanding of cultural and political realities.

Partial translations often lose touch with the context, while full translations are impossible without adding the explanations necessary to adapt the meaning to a different cultural environment. For example, the use of well-known slogans and expressions such as "We are all in the same boat!" or "I will make America great again!" requires additions to convey not only the literal, but also the emotional content embedded by the author of the cartoon. Thus, all the assigned research tasks have been completed. :

— A corpus of political cartoons has been created in three languages ;

— A linguistic and cultural analysis of the verbal component was carried out ;

— Key translation difficulties and their causes have been identified ;

— A typology of translatability is proposed, corresponding to the peculiarities of the genre and intercultural communication.

Based on the above, we note that the translation of the verbal component in polycode texts of political cartoons is a difficult task, suggesting the need to take into account not only the lexical meaning, but also cultural, historical and social contexts. Failure to do so may lead to a distortion of the author's intent and a loss of the caricature's critical acuity. Thus, in our opinion, it is important that translators not only know the language, but also have cultural awareness, which will allow them to successfully convey nuances such as satire, irony and cultural references, which ultimately will help preserve the integrity and effectiveness of the original work.