Date of Award
1-1-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A. in Modern Languages
First Advisor
Valentina Iepuri
Second Advisor
Felice Coles
Third Advisor
Donald Dyer
School
University of Mississippi
Relational Format
dissertation/thesis
Abstract
This case study investigates the translation of pre-Victorian-era politeness in Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice into Russian. The study addresses translators’ challenges when transferring cultural and social nuances from the original English texts to their Russian counterparts. The primary objective of this research is to analyze how Russian translations handle the concept of politeness, comparing strategies used by two translators, which is achieved through a comparative analysis of selected excerpts from the novel, focusing on the translation of politeness as defined by Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory. The study contributes to translation studies, showing the importance of cultural sensitivity and the translator’s role in bridging cultural differences. It emphasizes the need for translators to balance commitment to the original text with the cultural and social expectations of the target language audience. This research not only provides insights into the translation of politeness in literature but also offers practical implications for translators dealing with culturally rich texts. Future research could expand on this work by exploring translations of other authors or different cultural contexts, further deepening the understanding of literary translation across diverse cultures.
Recommended Citation
Ponomareva, Olga, "Differing Russian Translations of British Pre-Victorian Era Politeness in Literary Texts: a Case Study of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice" (2025). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3359.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/etd/3359