SEMANTIC AND PRAGMATIC EQUIVALENCE IN TRANSLATION: A THEORETICAL APPROACH AND PRACTICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Equivalence remains one of the most discussed concepts in translation studies because it describes how meaning is transferred between a source text (ST) and a target text (TT). This article examines equivalence through two complementary perspectives: semantic equivalence, which concerns the transfer of denotational meaning and structural correspondence between units, and pragmatic equivalence, which concerns communicative effect, audience expectations, and contextual adaptation. Drawing on established theoretical views, the paper explains regular equivalents (permanent and variable), occasional equivalents, and the role of linguistic and situational context in selecting appropriate correspondences. It also highlights how pragmatic meaning—connotation, stylistic force, presupposition, coherence, and implicature—can require translators to modify semantic exactness to preserve the intended impact on TT readers. Practical analysis includes examples of polysemy (e.g., “attitude”), connotative shifts (“ambitious”), culture-bound references (“abolitionist”), and pragmatic adaptation in stylistic choice. The article argues that successful translation depends on balancing semantic accuracy with pragmatic adequacy.