Theoretical background of study. Etymology of translation. Theory of translation. The problems of equivalence in translation, страница 10

[Буценко 2004, 1].

The Ukrainian translation of Alexander Butsenko transfers "nadsat" with the Russian words, written by Ukrainian letters:

I do not wish to describe, brothers, what other horrible veshches I was like forced to viddy that afternoon [Burgess 1986, 61].

Не хочу змальовувати, братики, інші жахливі вєщі, що їх мене примусили посмотрєть того дня [Буценко 2004, 37].

The Russian language isn’t considered alien to the average inhabitant of Ukraine, that’s why A. Butsenko doesn’t translate the slang into Ukrainian. So perhaps the translator has chosen an intermediate path between the two types of translation, which can be characterized as estrangement and domestication.

Let’s consider a reproduction of the “nadsat” on example of one more sentence:

There were three devotchkas sitting at the counter all together, but there were four of us malchicks and it was usually like one for all and all for one [Burgess 1986, 6].

Біля стойки сиділи рядком три дєвочкі, але ж нас, мальчіков, було четверо, і ми дотримувалися правила: один за всіх, усі за одного [Буценко 2004, 1].

In this fragment, the word "devotchkas" and "malchicks" transferred using transliteration of Ukrainian letters of words: "дєвочкі" та "мальчіков".

This method allows the reader to understand the meaning of the expressions "nadsat" and facilitates the perception of the work, although it is a departure from the original author's intention, as we have already mentioned, Anthony Burgess originally left all his invented words without explanation.

Russian words written with Ukrainian alphabet, create the impression of doublespeak,  lack of culture, marginality, whereas in the original - mystery, secrecy, arrogance and challenge to the social norms. In general, the person who reads a novel Ukrainian, will has the same combination of feelings to the media "nadsat", if he or she read it in the original: disgust and empathy, interest overtly negative heroes.

However, the author of the translation decided to concede mystery and to convey "nadsat" in a funny way. Translator offers a similar version of the original, but adapted to the Ukrainian reality. Because "nadsat" occupies an intermediate position between Russian and English, as well as doublespeak is somewhere between the Ukrainian and Russian. As in the original, foreign inclusions are distinguished from other normative text, remember, prominently and seem something mysterious.

This example is also interesting for it’s play of words: the phrase "one for all and all for one" may refer to women (eg, "одна на всіх і всі на одну") and a gang of teenagers as Alexander Butsenko which reproduced the phrase famous slogan Musketeers. Let’s note that the gang members, known as the musketeers were four.

2.4. Analysis of the ways of translations of the novel

“A clockwork orange” into Ukrainian and Russian

Authors of translations of the novel guided such translation strategies: Alexander Butsenko (Ukrainian translation) transliterated Russian counterparts of "nadsat" using the Ukrainian alphabet, Eugene Synelschykov (Russian translation) replaced the words "nadsat" with Russian words, while the Russian translation of Vladimir Boshnyak includes a combination of two approaches: some of the original words he leaves, and some – he replaces with modern Russian slang.

A distinctive feature of all three translations have the desire to convey "nadsat" humorous, not as a secret language, designed as Burgess. As a result, translators create a sort of funny slang, not incomprehensible argot.