Interdisciplinary dimension of the modern English-language penitentiary discourse research

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of linguistic and translational aspects of English-language penitentiary discourse. The article defines the main concepts of research, such as “penitentiary discourse”, “prison jargon”. The features of the penitentiary discourse in English, the history of its emergence and research are clarified. The article examines the linguistic features of penitentiary discourse in English. The analysis of examples of language interaction within the framework of penitentiary discourse showed that they belong to simple (primary) language genres, which represent the result of direct language communication, in contrast to complex (secondary) language genres that arise in conditions of more complex and relatively highly developed and organized cultural communication (mainly written) – artistic, scientific, socio-political, etc. It is presented in such forms as an order, everyday dialogue, interrogation, story, etc. The study of the peculiarities of the translation of texts of penitentiary discourse and prison jargon in particular showed that the most used methods of translation are literal translation, descriptive translation, in some cases equivalent translation is used. The translation of prison jargon is especially complicated by the fact that such vocabulary is often based on a play on words, a figurative, metaphorical meaning. The article analyzes the translation of language markers of penitentiary discourse into Ukrainian based on the material of the English-language film “The Shawshank Redemption”.