Cross-linguistic interaction and evolution of language: objective and subjective factors

Moscow Region State University, Radio str., 10A, 105005, Moscow, Russia

^* Corresponding author: taniasemina@gmail.com

Abstract

The present paper is aimed at investigating the role in the language development of a factor of its interaction with other languages, which is mostly pronounced within the process of translating different types of texts. Besides the linguacultural value, exploration of this phenomenon has general theoretical significance, since it is closely related, first, to the issue of correlation of internal and external factors that determine evolution of a language as a social phenomenon, and, second, to the issue of communicational potential peculiar to interacting idioms. The key research methods were the analysis of factual information obtained when having scrutinized the main tendencies observed in the process of resolving this issue during translation of foreign writings into Russian within different periods; defining the most illustrative translation methods used when having performed that process; highlighting different viewpoints of Russian and foreign scientists on the problem under consideration. The results of the research show, on the one hand, that the general idea of equality of communicational potential of different languages in different historical contexts requires certain amendments to be made, and on the other hand – that these amendments are determined not so much by linguistic, but more by extralinguistic factors that mainly stem from socioeconomic reasons. This, of course, does not preclude the subjective moments partly determined by translators’ competence.