13.2. Problems of translating English absolute nominative constructions into Russian

English absolute nominative constructions have no ready correspondences in Russian and so they are qualified as a variety of grammatical lacoonae. Such constructions are characterized by double predication within the framework of a simple sentence and thus they contribute, alongside other features of the language, to achieving the effect of compression in English sentences. A translator is confronted with three main problems when dealing with such constructions:

• the problem of their identification,

• the problem of determining the character of semantic connection between an absolute construction and the rest of the sentence,

• the problem of the proper choice of compensatory means that are available in Russian.

The first problem is solved with the help of main models that absolute constructions are built on. They are as follows:

1) absolute participle nominative constructions, She stood up, her face smiling;

2) absolute nominative constructions with a participle implied, The lecture over, we left the hall;

3) absolute nominative participle constructions linked with the sentence by a “with/without” phrase, I can’t work with that noise going on;

4) absolute nominative participle non-subject constructions, Being remarkably fine and agreeable in their manner, Oliver thought them very nice girls indeed..

The second problem connected with establishing the type of relations between an absolute construction and the sentence it is used in presupposes a semantic analysis which reveals the following functions of an absolute construction:

1) an adverbial modifier of manner/attending circumstances, He leaned forward, his head supported on his clenched fists;

2) an adverbial modifier of time, The duty done, they left the place;

3) an adverbial modifier of cause/ result, The heat in the room, with all the windows shut, was intense;

4) an adverbial modifier of condition, With everyone working, it made a nice pool against the winter.

The choice of compensatory means in Russian depends on the type of logical subject in an absolute nominative constructions:

• the logical subject of a construction coincides with the grammatical subject of the sentence while the grammatical subject in the construction denotes some part of the body, clothes, thoughts, feelings and emotions of the person described in the sentence.

In this case a translator makes use of the following means in Russian to translate an absolute nominative construction:

1) a verbal adverb phrase, He was so odd, standing there, so aggressive, bottle in hand and test-tube in the other. – У него был такой странный вид, когда он стоял с угрожающим видом, держа в одной руке бутыль, в другой – пробирку.

2) an independent sentence, Finally she stood back and looked at him, her face smiling. – Наконец она отступила назад и взглянула на него.Её лицо озарила улыбка.

3) a subordinate clause, At once her face was cool again, the shyness back. – В одно мгновение её лицо приняло спокойное выражение, и к ней вернулась её обычная застенчивость.

4) a prepositional phrase, With a sigh of relief she walked out, her head held high. – Облегченно вздохнув, она вышла из зала с высоко поднятой головой.

• the subject of an absolute construction is not the same as the subject of the sentence:

1) a subordinate clause, Lord Steyne’s visits continuing,his own ceased. – Так как посещения лорда Стейна продолжались, он перестал бывать у них.

2) an independent sentence, She blew him a kiss and then she was out the door, her handbag swinging on her wrist like a pendulum. – Она послала ему воздушный поцелуй и выпорхнула из комнаты. Сумка болталась у неё на руке, как маятник.

3) a prepositional phrase, She was living with her invalid aunt who had brought her up, her parents being dead. – Она жила со своей больной теткой, которая воспитала её после смерти родителей

Thus we see that the translation of absolute nominative constructions into Russian can be done in a variety of ways depending on a number of factors. A translator has to take into account these factors in order to make an adequate translation.