NON-EQUIVALENT LEXIS IN TRANSLATION: CLASSIFICATION OF LACUNAE

This article addresses one of the pressing issues in the field of translation—the phenomenon of lacunae, which refers to linguistic and cultural elements that exist in one language but lack direct or full equivalents in another. Lacunae, from the perspective of both linguistics and cultural studies, are classified into linguistic and cultural types. Linguistic lacunae pertain to grammatical or lexical units, while cultural lacunae encompass notions related to customs, values, and the social life of a particular people. This paper explores how lacunae manifest in language, their role in intercultural communication, and the translation challenges they present. Various translation strategies used to compensate for lacunae—such as transliteration, adaptation, descriptive translation, and explanatory translation—are analyzed. The findings of this research have practical relevance for translators and linguists, contributing to a deeper understanding of cultural differences and supporting accurate and culturally sensitive translation practices.