Edzieva, Naira T.
Izvestia SOIGSI. 2024. IIS 51 (90). P.101-114.

Abstract:
The article deals with an urgent issue of modern linguistics – the problem of translating
some kinship terms from Russian into Ossetian and vice versa. In the Russian language,
a significant part of the terms of kinship in the ascending and descending line (names
of ancestors and descendants) are formed using the prefix -pra, and in the Ossetian
language, most terms of kinship are formed in a descriptive way. Some scientists suggest
the combined spelling of descriptive terms of kinship, which, in our opinion, prevents the
natural perception of words in the text. The most problematic when translating literary
works from Russian into Ossetian is the translation of such terms of lateral kinship as
uncle and aunt, since in the Ossetian language there are two designations for each of
them: on the father’s side – fydy ho, fydy ′fsymær; on the mother’s side – mady ho, mady
′fsymær. In some texts, the translation from Russian into Ossetian (if the side of kinship
is unknown) may remain incorrect. When translating from Ossetian into Russian, such
ambiguity becomes impossible, because in this case it is necessary to emphasize the side of
the kinship (father or mother). Russian, namely, in colloquial speech, are gradually passing
into the category of archaisms, mainly under the influence of the Russian language, but
when translating fiction or school textbooks, in our opinion, it is necessary to use variants
that are currently considered archaisms. Nevertheless, some assimilated versions of kinship
terms (in particular, babu, dedu) have already been included in a number of school
textbooks, which, in our opinion, does not contribute to the development of the Ossetian
language and the reflection of its national specifics. The article also pays attention to some
terms of the property. The author of the article points out that the Ossetian mentality
influences the use of certain variants in colloquial speech. Fragments from the modern
Ossetian translation of the Bible, published in 2022, on the 1100th anniversary of the
baptism of Alanya, are used as practical material, since all the resources of the Ossetian
language are used here to the maximum.

Keywords: kinship, ascending line, descending line, lateral kinship, property terms, spelling.

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