BETWEEN EQUIVALENCE AND CREATIVITY: CHALLENGES OF CROSS-CULTURAL MEANING IN MODERN TRANSLATION PRACTICES

Abstract

The article “Between Equivalence and Creativity: Challenges of Cross-Cultural Meaning in Modern Translation Practices” examines the tension between linguistic fidelity and creative adaptation in contemporary translation studies. While the concept of equivalence has long served as a cornerstone of translation theory, modern cross-cultural encounters demonstrate that strict adherence to equivalence is often insufficient to convey nuanced meanings embedded in cultural, historical, and stylistic contexts. This study analyzes case studies from literary, technical, and audiovisual translation, illustrating how translators navigate between preserving the semantic core of the source text and exercising creativity to ensure target-culture relevance. Special attention is given to idiomatic expressions, metaphorical language, humor, and culturally specific references, where direct equivalence frequently fails to capture intended effects. The article also discusses the influence of digital technologies and machine translation, which foreground new questions of accuracy, creativity, and translator agency in an age of rapid global communication. Ultimately, it argues that translation is not merely a linguistic transfer but a complex act of intercultural mediation that requires balancing fidelity with innovation. By foregrounding the dynamic interplay between equivalence and creativity, the research highlights the translator’s role as both a mediator and creator, shaping meaning across languages and cultures in ways that influence global literary, academic, and communicative practices.