This thesis highlights the specific features of translating ecological lexis in the texts of different types united by the common subject of ecology. The research is based on original and translated texts of specialized dictionary entries, abstracts to scientific papers, specialized and non-specialized periodicals, manuals, official documents, publications of governmental and public environmental organizations. Chapter I covers theoretical problems referring to ecological lexis as the object of translation. The term "ecology" in its proper sense refers to the specialized texts of ecological discourse while sociocultural concept ENVIRONMENT may be a core concept for any texts of this discourse. Ecological discourse is dynamic and heterogeneous and results in dynamic and heterogeneous translation strategies. In terms of theory and practice of translation ecological lexis is classified into ecological terms, ecological realia, ecological symbols and ecological term-concepts. Ecological terminology being internationalized, it acquires codified equivalents in the target language. While translating ecological realia and symbols the main task is to retain both their notional and culture-conditioned elements of meaning. Ecological lexis covers three thematic zones: nature-oriented, society-oriented and technology-oriented. With one of the three lexis types dominating, the translator faces different tasks and should employ different translation strategies. Chapter II focuses on general and specific tasks of reproducing ecological lexis in different text types. When translating ecological lexis it should be taken into consideration if its elements are 1) nuclear / peripheral / marginal, 2) obligatory / optional / irrelevant, 3) invariant / variative, 4) universal / culture-conditioned. Specialized ecological texts translation requires observing informative and terminological criteria. In translation of non-specialized ecological texts evaluative and symbolic criteria are dominating. A translator should bear in mind the reverse correlation of these criteria. Chapter III describes culturally and historically conditioned semantic layers of the terms-concepts ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY and ENVIRONMENTAL CATASTROPHE which cover the widest time range from the archaic paganism till present time and rest upon different cultural values. Chapter IV examines ways and methods of translating ecological lexis in specialized and non-specialized texts. The analysis of ecological lexis translations defines basic translation strategies, types of equivalents and lexico-semantic transformations. In specialized text types direct and variant equivalents and loan translations are generally used. In non-specialized text types analogues, contextual replacements, semantic transformations and structural transpositions are commonly employed. Adequate translation of ecological lexis in non-ecological discourse texts is provided by observing general requirements to translating a text of а particular discourse and reproducing its dominating function. The dissertation is the first comprehensive study of ecological lexis as a component of Translation Studies. Its results can contribute to the linguistic theory of translation and may be used for solving practical problems of translating, analyzing and editing translations of the texts on ecological and environmental subjects, but of different functional types. Key words: translation, types of translational equivalents, ecological text, ecological lexis, ecological term, ecological realia, ecological symbol, ecological term-concept.
