When Words Mean More Than Their Literal Meaning

How can an idiom be understood when it cannot be translated word for word? This question was central to a meeting held on 2 November 2026 by third-year Foreign Philology students at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Associate Professor Olga Anatolyevna Kuratova. Their guest was Cecilia Janet Lewis, a graduate of the University of Cambridge. Participants discussed idioms and non-equivalent vocabulary in English and Russian.

Fixed expressions reflect cultural images and associations. Translating them requires understanding the meaning of the whole expression, not just its individual words. When no exact equivalent exists, translators must find a similar expression or convey the meaning in different words, taking context and culture into account.

The students prepared presentations and interactive games, including activities on Wordwall. This format combined language analysis with practice and gave students an opportunity to present the material, explain linguistic features, and engage participants.

The meeting also created an opportunity to communicate in English and exchange ideas. This experience helps future philologists and translators develop communication skills, understand cultural context, and apply theoretical knowledge in practice.

The event supported UN Sustainable Development Goal 4: to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. Guest meetings, student-led presentations, and digital learning resources enrich the learning process and expand opportunities for practical study.

Initiatives like this help students explore how languages reflect cultural experience and find precise solutions when a literal translation does not convey the intended meaning.

Kuratova O.A., Associate Professor at the Department of Foreign Philology and Translation StudiesAl-Farabi Kazakh National University