Semantic Shifts in Cross-Linguistic Translation: A Lexico-Syntactic Study of Idoma and English

Abstract

Translation extends far beyond the simple replacement of words; it is an intricate act of mediating meaning across different linguistic and cultural worlds.Thus, this study investigates lexico-syntactic determinants of semantic shifts in Idoma-to-English translation, focusing on how words and structural differences influence meaning transfer. Anchored solely in Catford’s Theory of Translation Shifts (1965), the research employs a qualitative descriptive design with comparative elements. Data were collected from primary sources including oral and written Idoma texts, and semi-structured interviews with bilingual speakers, translators, teachers, and community elders and from secondary sources comprising published Idoma-to-English texts. Analysis focused on lexical and syntactic levels, with triangulation and participant validation ensuring reliability. Findings reveal that lexico-semantic shifts often arise from culturally grounded imagery, relational references, or functional descriptions in Idoma that lack direct English equivalents, resulting in ambiguity, obscurity, awkwardness, or verbosity. Syntactic shifts are driven by structural contrasts, including differences in word order, possessive constructions, adjective placement, and copula usage, requiring careful reordering to maintain clarity and naturalness in English. The study also identifies new semantic categories which are pathological, physiological, instrumental/technological, social, and religious semantics. They explicate how Idoma encodes cultural, functional, and symbolic meaning. The study concludes that semantic shifts in Idoma-to-English translation result from the complex interplay of lexico-semantic and syntactic factors. It recommends that future studies explore the role of pragmatic and sociocultural context to enhance meaning preservation and cultural nuance. Received: 05 December 2025 /Accepted: 29 December 2025 / Published: January 2026