Culturally Marked Elements in the Translation of Postmodern Prose into Ukrainian

Abstract

Abstract: Aim. The aim of the article is to analyse the functioning of culturally marked meanings in postmodern literary texts and to identify translation solutions for their adequate rendering into Ukrainian, taking into account narrative organisation, pragmatic orientation and stylistic modulation of the text. Methods. The study is based on a combined application of contextual-interpretative, contrastive and stylistic analysis, complemented by translation-oriented interpretation. The research material comprises Julian Barnes’s English-language novel Flaubert’s Parrot and Daniel Kehlmann’s German-language novel Die Vermessung der Welt. Text fragments characterised by a high degree of cultural density were selected and examined through a comparison of their realisation in the source texts and their rendering in Ukrainian translation, with attention paid to shifts in meaning, tone and cultural reference. Results. The analysis shows that in the English-language material cultural specificity is primarily realised through intertextual references, essayistic reflection and everyday detail, whereas in the German-language text it is structured through intellectual irony, historical symbolism and abstract philosophical generalisation. These differences result in distinct translation challenges and require different combinations of translation strategies. In both cases, translation choices are determined not by formal linguistic equivalence but by the ability of the target text to preserve the functional role of culturally marked elements within the literary discourse and their contribution to narrative coherence. Conclusions. Postmodern literary translation involves interpretative decisions that prioritise layered meaning, discourse coherence, and communicative effect over formal equivalence. The findings may be applied in further translation studies research and in the teaching of literary translation, particularly for developing cultural sensitivity, analytical skills and reflective decision-making in translator training.