Comparative Constructions in Ray Bradbury's “The Martian Chronicles”
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2025-14-5-162-181
Abstract
The aim of this study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of comparative structures within the context of the author's individual stylistic approach. The research sources include the original text of Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" and its Russian translation by L. L. Zhdanova. The material for analysis consists of 354 parallel textual fragments featuring comparative constructions. Methods employed in this study include comparative, contextual, and component analysis, as well as linguistic and cultural commentary and quantitative assessment. It is established that in L. L. Zhdanova's Russian translation of "The Martian Chronicles," there are 180 instances of equivalent translation of comparisons and 64 examples of comparative phrases translated through various transformations (generalization, specification, modulation, lexical addition, compression, descriptive translation). Attention is given to the identification of universal and culturally specific features within the linguistic worldview reflected in these comparisons. It is demonstrated that both subjects and objects of comparison, in the context of Bradbury's authorial perception, encompass humanity, artifacts, and nature. The identified models are illustrated with examples: wrists — icicles; face — apple; housewives — bears (HUMAN > NATURE); dwellings — snakes; city — lizard; shotguns — cranes; ships — petals; blouse — flower (ARTIFACT > NATURE), among others. Notably, there are 80 instances where comparisons are absent in the original but present in the translation, and 10 cases where comparative constructions are missing in the translation despite their presence in the original.
About the Author
E. N. Sokolova
University of Tyumen
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Elena N. Sokolova, Doctor of Philology, Professor, Department of Linguistics and Literary Studies
Tyumen
References
1. Baranova, T. M. (2021). Individual figurative comparison as a component of T. Pratchett’s idiosyncrasy and the features of its translation into Russian (based on the novels of the Discworld series). Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Mytishchi. 29 p. (In Russ.).
2. Cheremisina, M. I. (2006). Comparative constructions of the Russian language. Moscow: KomKniga. 272 p. ISBN 978-5-484-00574-1. (In Russ.).
3. Devyatova, N. M. (2011). Dictum-mode organization of comparative constructions in the Russian language. Author’s abstract of Doct. Diss. Moscow. 43 p. (In Russ.).
4. Gargani, A. (2014). Poetic Comparisons: How Similes Are Understood. Salford: University of Salford. 366 p.
5. Jordan, W., Clifton, A. (2009). I. A. Richard’s concept of tenor-vehicle interaction. Central State Speech Journal, 27 (2): 136—143. DOI: 10.1080/10510977609367880.
6. Khlebnikova, M. V. (2005). Comparative constructions and their synonymy in Russian and English. Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Rostov-on-Don. 46 p. (In Russ.).
7. Lapina, L. G. (2023). Translation of figurative comparisons (based on the translation of Ray Bradbury’s novel “Dandelion Wine” into Russian). Humanitarian Studies. History and philology, 9: 59—74. DOI: 10.24412/2713-0231-2023-9-059-073. (In Russ.).
8. Litvinov, Yu. V. (1990). Typology of imagery of comparisons (based on the material of Russian and English languages). Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Leningrad. 20 p. (In Russ.).
9. Litvinova, V. V. (2009). Individual author’s concepts in the structure of Ray Bradbury’s artistic world. Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Volgograd. 20 p. (In Russ.).
10. Lukin, D. S. (2016). Linguistic and cultural features of the translation of means of expression from the original language into Russian: based on the works of J. K. Rowling “Harry Potter”. Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Moscow. 28 p. (In Russ.).
11. Markina, N. V. (2006). The artistic world of Ray Bradbury: traditions and innovation. Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Samara. 21 p. (In Russ.).
12. Maslova, V. A. (2001). Linguoculturology. Moscow: Akademiya Publ. 208 p. ISBN 5-7695- 0745-4. (In Russ.).
13. McMillan, G., Palumbo, D. E., Sullivan III, C. W. (2013). Orbiting Ray Bradbury’s Mars: Biographical, Anthropological, Literary, Scientific and Other Perspectives. Jefferson (NC): McFarland & Company. 264 p. ISBN 978-0786475766.
14. Moiseenko, A. V., Galkina, Y. R. (2023). Structural and semantic features of comparisons (based on the poetry collection of the Bronte Sisters). Russian Linguistic Bulletin, 9 (45): 67—70. DOI: 10.18454/RULB.2023.45.21. (In Russ.).
15. Mpouli, S. (2016). Automatic annotation of similes in literary texts. Paris: Université Pierre et Marie Curie. 233 p.
16. Novikova V. P. Some issues of translation of author’s comparisons / V. P. Novikova // Bulletin of the Chelyabinsk State Pedagogical University. 2015. No. 6. pp. 179-185. (In Russ.).
17. Novikova, V. G. (1992). Ray Bradbury’s fantastic novel. PhD Diss. Nizhny Novgorod. 182 p. (In Russ.).
18. Pavlovich, N. V. (2004). The language of images. Paradigms of images in the Russian poetic language. Moscow: Azbukovnik. 527 p. ISBN 5-98455-007-5. (In Russ.).
19. Riabtseva, N. K. (2013). Applied problems of translation studies. The linguistic aspect. Moscow: FLINT: Nauka Publ. 224 p. ISBN 978-5-9765-1070-8. (In Russ.).
20. Ryzhenkova, A. A. (2020). Features of English and Russian comparisons in the linguistic and cultural aspect. Philological Sciences. Questions of theory and practice, 13 (3): 278—284. DOI: doi.org/10.30853/filnauki.2020.3.58. (In Russ.).
21. Serenkov, Yu. S., Gromova, A. V. (2019). Ray Bradbury: The phenomenon of creative personality in culture. Novokuznetsk: SibGIU Publishing Center. 132 p. ISBN 978-5- 7806-0522-5. (In Russ.).
22. Sokolova, E. N. (2023). Vocabulary of color in the “Martian Chronicles” by R. Bradbury. Philological class, 28 (20): 152—161. (In Russ.).
23. Stepanova, A. V. (2006). The intertextual nature of image and imagery (based on figurative comparative constructions of English and American literature of the 19th and 20th centuries). Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Samara. 21 p. (In Russ.).
24. Tregubchak, A. V. (2008). Semantics of comparison and ways of its expression. PhD Diss. Ryazan. 221 p. (In Russ.).
25. Ushakova, Yu. Y. (2005). Lexical content and structural and semantic features of comparative tropes in the Russian language. Author’s abstract of Doct. Diss. Moscow. 48 p. (In Russ.).
26. Zarudneva, E. A. (2007). Comparative constructions in the linguocognitive aspect (based on the material of the Russian and English languages). Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Krasnodar. 23 p. (In Russ.).
27. Zubinova, A. Sh. (2022). Comparison in the idiosyncrasy of S. King: linguopragmatic and translational characteristics. Author’s abstract of PhD Diss. Kazan. 23 p. (In Russ.).
Review
For citations:
Sokolova E.N. Comparative Constructions in Ray Bradbury's “The Martian Chronicles”. Nauchnyi dialog. 2025;14(5):162-181. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2025-14-5-162-181
Views:
44
Email this article 