Lexical and Grammatical Transformations in Translating Rehabilitation Texts (Based on Megan Devine’s Book “It’s OK That You’re Not OK”)

Abstract

Since ancient times, language has fulfilled a number of crucial functions in human life. The most well-known of these is communication: through language, people are able to express their thoughts and ideas, as well as understand the words of others. However, language encompasses many more aspects that are key to a complete understanding of surrounding processes.

Language is one of the primary means of perceiving the world. From early childhood, the language of communication shapes a person’s mentality by embedding certain words, expressions, and concepts into their consciousness. Just as different events elicit different reflexive reactions, each grammatical construction carries its own emotional connotation, influencing both subconscious and conscious perception of verbal stimuli. At the interface of language and cognition, grammatical structures evoke specific associations. In cases where a person communicates in a single language for an extended period, it is possible for traumatic experiences—such as war, violence, or the loss of loved ones—to become linked with that language in their consciousness. Any word, phrase, or sentence can trigger a negative reaction through association or psychological triggers. Thus, the idea that language impacts thinking and emotional memory, and that switching to a different language can transform perception, underscores the relevance of our study. In the context of martial law in Ukraine and the urgent need for comprehensive support for rehabilitation projects, this topic becomes particularly significant.

The article focuses on the analysis of lexical and grammatical transformations in the translation of rehabilitation texts, taking as its basis Megan Devine’s book “It’s OK That You’re Not OK.” The study involves methods of comparative analysis, descriptive techniques, translation analysis, and quantitative sampling procedures.