TRANSLATION TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE RENDERING OF AMERICAN REALIA IN WALT DISNEY STUDIO FILMS

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the characteristics and challenges associated with the translation of American realia featured in animated films by Walt Disney Studios. These films serve as a significant source of cultural communication and reflect the everyday life, mentality, values, and social stereotypes of the United States. The relevance of the research is determined by the need to ensure high-quality dubbing for the target audience, which requires translators to employ not only linguistic accuracy but also cultural creativity and adaptation. The research is based on an analysis of the Ukrainian translations of several animated films, including Moana, The Lion King, Tangled, Frozen, and Zootopia. The study systematically analyzes the application of a complex set of interlingual transformations – translation transformations – aimed at achieving equivalence in conditions where direct correspondences for culturally marked units are absent in the target language. The selection of specific transformations is determined by the type of realia, its functional load within the narrative, the degree of its visualization, the target audience, and the overall translation strategy. The analysis highlights the systematic use of a wide range of lexical, lexico-grammatical, and pragmatic transformations to ensure the adequate reproduction of culturally specific information. It is concluded that the effectiveness of translating American realia depends on the translator's ability to choose the optimal combination of transformations, which ensures a balance between preserving the cultural specificity of the original and creating a text that is accessible and appealing to the Ukrainian audience. It is demonstrated that the transformational approach contributes not only to the adequate reproduction of content but also to the enrichment of the target culture through the integration of new concepts and linguistic models.