The problem of political correctness in consecutive interpreting from Russian into English

Abstract

The article discusses the notion of political correctness and its impact on the decision-making in interpreting from Russian into English in the sphere of politics. The correlation between the notions of political correctness and adequacy of translation is analyzed. Translations of V. Putin’s and S. Lavrov’s speeches and interviews are studied in terms of strategies and techniques employed by the interpreters for the sake of political correctness. Adequacy of translation is also assessed. Conclusions are drawn stating direct dependency of interpreters’ choices on the type of potential discrimination and on the communicative situation requirements. In case of potential discrimination based on gender, race, age, religion, health, appearance, sexual orientation or social status, the political correctness requirements normally do not come into conflict with the communicative situation requirements, so the interpreters use the corresponding English euphemistic equivalents or resort to transformations, mainly generalization. Nevertheless, when political correctness is aligned with political or economic issues, adequacy of translation tends to require direct naming of things, with political correctness waived. This allows to raise the question whether euphemization related to the description of a state’s outer policy or its economic consequences should be part of the sphere of political correctness.