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Arts & Communication Advanced macro-image model for poetry translation

style, creative method, and manner of writing. Hence, because its English counterpart “sacred” is syntactically
reproducing the original’s, essentially its tropes, is crucial located in a much weaker place – no longer at the end of
for maintaining the image system. However, since artistic the line or standing alone in rhyme – where poets typically
images of each language are inherently national in character, emphasize words to evoke strong associations.
only an acute understanding of a poetic work’s style can Kotsyubynska points out that Shevchenko’s entire
guide translators in selecting appropriate counterparts. way of thinking is permeated by a heightened sense of
This necessitates that translators should be extremely contradictions. Contrast often serves as a core element
attentive to the verbal images of the original work and in esthetic assessment. The tragic elements in the poetry
exercise moderation and tact during their reproduction. arise from comic clashes between external forms and inner
In the language of translation, direct equivalents for the essence. Shevchenko takes each assessment to its limit and
verbal images of the original poetic work are often lacking, then contrasts them by pushing them. This duality is well
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leading translators to trace or reproduce these images illustrated in another part of the poem “Caucasus,” which
descriptively. In some cases, partial image equivalents may begins with: Чурек і сакля – все твоє, / Воно не прошене,
be employed. To preserve the imagery of the original work, не дане…(Churek and saklya are all yours, / It is not asked
translators may use idioms, neologisms, derivations, and for, not given...). In Fedynsky’s translation: The churek and
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other creative means. the sakla – All yours, / They’re unbidden, they’re not given. 45
Focusing on studying the translation of epithet The main flaw of this English version is the replacement
constructions reveals their role in forming the poet’s of the indefinite pronoun Воно (It) with the twice-repeated
conceptual epithets while expressing the individual They’re, which affected not only the epithet constructions
author’s style. of the original work but also the collective image of the
homeland created by the author.
Epithet constructions serve a descriptive and
axiological function, making them highly effective in To achieve the functional adequacy of conceptual
creating original verbal images that vividly convey the epithets in their re-embodiment in another language,
author’s artistic vision. The subjectivity and individuality translators must make considerable effort. A key
of the artist become particularly evident through their methodological consideration is the pragmatic load of
choice of epithets – much like a painter’s preference for the epithet and its characteristics, which contribute to
certain lines and colors. A poet has a penchant for epithets the creation of the original verbal image. This pragmatics
that reveal their world and themselves as creators of the necessitates finding or creating an equivalent emotional
world of images. counterpart in the target language.
The term “conceptual epithet” refers to epithet The importance of figurative comparisons (similes)
constructions that are associatively connected to specific in translation stems from their dual role as expressive
concepts. This includes traditional epithet constructions linguistic tools and as the corpus of linguistic and
that may be contextually modified by the author, as ethnocultural units. Similes reflect individual and national
well as uniquely authored expressions. For example, in figurative thinking, clarifying how certain phenomena
Shenchenko’s poem “Caucasus,” which resonates with an and subjects are perceived within a specific ethnic
ardent freedom-loving call, various associations with the consciousness. While some of these associative links are
concept of “will” emerge: Борітеся – поборете, / Вам Бог common across cultures, others are distinctly national.
помагає! / За вас правда, за вас сила / І воля святая! A comparative analysis of the semantic features of constant
(Fight – win, / God will help you! / For you is the truth, figurative comparisons in English and Ukrainian reveals
for you is the power / And the will is holy!). As noted several types: (i) identical: as sharp as a razor – гострий,
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by Grabovetska, the poet does not explicitly define his як бритва (sharp as a razor), (ii) similar: as dry as a bone –
understanding of will in the text. Instead, his entire work сухий, як тріска (dry as a chip), (iii) different: as drunk as
is interwoven with images that superficially correspond to a lord – п’яний, як чіп (drunk as a cork), and (iv) absence
the concept of “slavery.” In addition, these images differ in of a figurative equivalent in one of the languages: as true as
both their underlying ideas and their presentation. 44 steel – completely loyal, faithful; битися, як риба об лід
In Fedynskyi’s English translation of this passage, it – to struggle desperately; quite alone – один, як билина в
reads: Fight – you’ll win the fight, / God is helping you! / полі (alone, like a wild plant in a field). 47
Behind you stands the truth, / behind you stands the glory, It is crucial to consider these factors when translating
/ And sacred liberty as well. As we can see, the expression similes. However, literal translations can sometimes
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of Shevchenko’s epithet святая (sacred) loses some impact yield undesirable results because identical semantic

Volume 3 Issue 3 (2025) 9 doi: 10.36922/ac.5990