Maintaining Diplomatic Balance in the Translation of United Nations Documents into Azerbaijani

Abstract

This article investigates the challenges and translation strategies involved in rendering United Nations (UN) documents into Azerbaijani, with particular attention to the preservation of diplomatic balance, terminological precision, and pragmatic accuracy. UN texts—such as resolutions, conventions, and official statements—are characterized by dense legal-diplomatic discourse, institutionalized terminology, and carefully calibrated political language. Their translation therefore requires not only advanced linguistic competence but also a comprehensive understanding of international relations, historical background, and regional sensitivities.

The study focuses on three interrelated dimensions of UN document translation: the linguistic and diplomatic features of UN discourse, the contextual and cultural constraints shaping translation decisions, and pragmatic adaptation in legal and diplomatic texts. Special emphasis is placed on terminology management, consistency across intertextually related documents, and the translator’s responsibility to maintain neutrality while ensuring clarity and functional equivalence in the target language. Drawing on selected examples from Azerbaijani translations of UN documents, the analysis illustrates how translators address legal terminology, sustain institutional coherence, and navigate cultural and geopolitical nuances. The findings demonstrate that the effective translation of UN documents into Azerbaijani depends on the integration of linguistic expertise, pragmatic judgment, and diplomatic awareness. By examining these factors, the article contributes to translation studies in the field of international diplomacy and offers practical insights for translators, researchers, and policymakers engaged in multilingual legal and diplomatic communication.