V. N. Komissarov’s Linguistic Theory of Translation in the Context of Cognitive Evolution in Linguistics
Rushen Ramizoglu
Abstract. The presented article provides a detailed analysis of the linguistic translation theory of the prominent Russian translation scholar Vilen Naumovich Komissarov within the context of the cognitive evolution and anthropocentric scientific paradigm in modern linguistics. This scientific shift, occurring in the second half of the twentieth century, redirected the focus of translation studies from the formal comparison of static texts to the modeling of dynamic and complex mental processes occurring in the translator's mind. The study traces the evolution of Komissarov's scientific views, particularly his transition from a traditional linear approach to a cognitively oriented "macrolinguistic" concept. The categories of equivalence and adequacy, which form the core of his theory, as well as his main translation models (situational-denotative, transformational-semantic, and three-phase psycholinguistic models), are re-evaluated from a cognitive perspective. Specifically, the relationship between the situational-denotative model and cognitive-frame approaches is demonstrated, along with its role in translating non-equivalent vocabulary. Furthermore, the lexical, grammatical, and complex lexical-grammatical translation transformations classified by the scholar are interpreted not merely as substitutions of linguistic units, but as mental operations of conceptual recombination (specification, modulation, explication, compensation, etc.) formed within the translator's mind. Finally, the article emphasizes the strong dialectical succession between Komissarov’s linguistic theory and modern cognitive translation studies, highlighting the profound methodological significance of this heritage for the development of machine translation and artificial intelligence systems.
Keywords: V. N. Komissarov, linguistic translation theory, cognitive evolution, translation models, translation transformations