THE TRANSLATION OF POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN DAILY ONLINE NEWSPAPERS IN KOSOVA: WITH A FOCUS OF WAR IN UKRAINE

Abstract

This study investigates the complexities of journalistic translation in the context of political discourse, focusing on English-to-Albanian translations of war-related articles about the Ukraine conflict. Grounded in Skopos Theory, the research analyzes eight translated headlines from international online newspapers to evaluate accuracy, cultural adaptation, and translational strategies. A mixed-methods approach combines textual analysis of translated headlines, such as "G7 leaders condemn Putin for attacking Ukraine" and "North Korean troops in Kursk a ‘significant escalation’", with insights from a former translator’s professional experience and literature on journalistic translation challenges. Findings reveal recurring difficulties in: preserving rhetorical force in politically charged statements, balancing fidelity to source texts with target-audience readability, and handling culturally loaded terms. The study contributes to translation theory by refining Skopos principles for crisis reporting, demonstrating how translators prioritize audience impact over literal accuracy. Practical recommendations include: adopting hybrid human-machine workflows for time-sensitive content, developing glossaries for conflict-related terminology, and training translators in political discourse analysis. Limitations include the narrow focus on headlines and the Albanian context, suggesting future research on full-text translations across languages. Ultimately, this research underscores journalistic translation’s pivotal role in shaping international perceptions of war.