Lacunae and their elimination in the Russian translation of Charles Dickens' “David Copperfield”

In this article, lacunae in literary works are examined as units of non-equivalent vocabulary reflecting the distinctive conceptual sphere of a foreign language speaker, thus requiring a specific approach to translation. The aim of the study is to identify the specific characteristics of rendering lacunar vocabulary into Russian in the translated version of Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield". The scientific novelty of the research lies in determining the types of lacunae present in this work and revealing the features of their translation into Russian. The study identified ethnographic, interlingual, object-related, motivated, and unmotivated lacunae. To eliminate them, the primary method employed is the filling of lacunae, a method more complex and varied compared to compensation, utilizing translation techniques such as calquing and transcription, often in combination with descriptive translation, commentary, or a note. Quality translation of lacunae involves solving two main tasks: ensuring their easy comprehension by speakers of another culture while simultaneously preserving their objective meaning, national specificity, and historical background.