The value frames of culture and the problem of translation equivalence: O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi and its Russian translation

Abstract

This article discusses the problem of functional equivalence in a literary text translation. A strong case is made for what the article proposes to consider reconstructive reading as the basic method for approaching a literary text in order to translate it. We analyze the Russian translation of O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, which has become part of the canon in Russian culture. The article defines and exemplifies the mechanism of reconstructive reading, demonstrating how identifying the points of contrast between certain phrases in the text and the relevant value frames allows to recreate the patterns of meaning in the narrative. This serves as the basis for understanding the function of every word in the text and for clearly experiencing the fullness of its expressive potential. Moreover, the article demonstrates how the translation of O. Henry’s story loses any meaningful connection to the original, distorting and trivializing it. The reason for this failure is identified as the lack of attention to the key elements in the original text, which establish the contrasting relationship between the text and the clearly marked value frames. We stress that the well-established mistranslation of the original text has forced Russian literary critics to come up with erroneous interpretations of that short story. The conclusion points out the significance of practicing reconstructive reading as a prerequisite for translation in order to avoid creating translations that may create misunderstandings between cultures.