Lacunarity in technical texts: linguo-cognitive and sociocultural dimensions

Abstract

This study investigates lacunarity in technical texts as a complex linguo-cognitive and sociocultural phenomenon that extends beyond simple lexical absence. Drawing on a corpus of English-language technical materials IT, electrical engineering, and industrial safety domains, two primary lacuna categories are identified and analysed: conceptual lacunae, arising misaligned mental mappings between specialist cultures, and sociocultural lacunae, rooted in divergent engineering traditions, legal frameworks, and professional ethics. The study systematizes key bridging strategies – calquing, descriptive translation, and functional substitution – and critically addresses the risks of AI-generated "hallucinations" in translation of non-equivalent terminology. The findings confirm that resolving terminological gaps requires the integration of cognitive flexibility, domain expertise, and cultural awareness, with direct implications for technical translation pedagogy.