LEXICAL GAPS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON TRANSLATION EQUIVALENCE

Abstract

Understanding the intricate relationship between language and translation is central to the field of linguistics. One of the most pressing issues encountered in this domain is the phenomenon of lexical gaps—instances where a word or expression exists in one language but lacks a direct counterpart in another. This linguistic disparity inevitably influences the process of translation, particularly with regard to achieving equivalence. The absence of direct correspondences between languages shapes the translator’s strategies and challenges the very notion of equivalence, which is often considered a fundamental goal of the translation process.