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Description
This study investigated the phenomenon of lexical gaps between English and Vietnamese through the lens of Contrastive Analysis, Document Analysis, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-assisted translation studies. It aimed to explore the similarities and differences in how these two languages handle untranslatable concepts, evaluate the role of AI-powered translation tools in addressing lexical gaps, and identify effective translation methods for bridging these gaps in cultural texts. A qualitative research design was adopted, involving a systematic examination of cultural samples selected from the Nhan Dan Newspaper and National Geographic. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and a four-step contrastive procedure including description, selection, contrast, and prediction, alongside comparative observations of AI-generated translations. The findings indicated that while both languages share similarities in semantic, taxonomic, and translational gaps, significant differences emerge in morpheme, morphological, and paradigm structures. Specifically, lexical gaps were found to be largely shaped by environmental covariates, social constructs, and historical influences. The study further revealed that although AI-based translation systems can enhance translation speed and lexical accessibility, they frequently struggle to preserve culturally embedded meanings and nuanced contextual expressions. Results suggested that Adaptation and Transposition are the most suitable methods for addressing morpheme gaps, whereas Adaptation emerged as the dominant strategy for fulfilling semantic and taxonomic gaps to preserve cultural nuances. However, the study also demonstrated that literal translation and AI-generated direct equivalence often fail to capture the cultural essence of either language due to deep structural disparities. Results were discussed, and implications for improving AI-assisted translation practices, enhancing translation quality for students and teachers, and recommendations for future research in broader cultural and technological domains were presented.
