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ABSTRACT
This article analyzes the translation of culture-
specific items in “Saodat Asri Qissalari” by Ahmad Lutfi Kazanchi using
Newmark’s (1988) taxonomy . It highlights the challenges of translating conceptual metaphors and phraseological
units while maintaining the text's linguistic integrity and cultural resonance. By applying Newmark`s strategies, this
study demonstrates how to preserve the emotional and cultural essence of the source text for English-speaking
audiences. This approach underscores the importance of nuanced translation practices in enhancing cross-cultural
communication and making literary texts more accessible. The findings show the effectiveness of Newmark's
techniques in addressing semantic and cultural challenges in literary translation.
KEYWORDS
Culture-specific items, translation challenges, conceptual metaphors, phraseological units, Newmark's techniques,
cross-cultural communication, literary translation, semantic analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Research Article
TRANSLATING CULTURE-
SPECIFIC ITEMS IN “SAODAT ASRI QISSALARI”:
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
Submission Date:
June 10, 2024,
Accepted Date:
June 15, 2024,
Published Date:
June 20, 2024
Crossref doi
https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/Volume04Issue06-17
Nematullayev Nodirbek Muzaffar o`g`li
Student of Termez State University, Uzbekistan
Yodgorov Shamsiddin Abduraimovich
Scientific Advisor, Termez State University, Uzbekistan
Journal
Website:
https://theusajournals.
com/index.php/ajps
Copyright:
Original
content from this work
may be used under the
terms of the creative
commons
attributes
4.0 licence.
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This article looks at how literary texts connect cultures,
going beyond their beauty to help people from
different places understand each other through
language. It shows how important literature has been
in shaping societies and helping different cultures talk
to each other by sharing ideas, stories, and art. As
writing developed, it allowed these texts to be shared
over time and space, highlighting their role in letting us
learn about the achievements of distant or past
cultures. Through translating and studying these texts,
literature helps to enrich the world's cultures and
improve our shared human experience. This study
focuses on translating specific cultural phrases and
concepts, using methods to keep the original text`s
richness while making it understandable to more
people.
This introduction prepares us to discuss the challenges
and methods of translating specific cultural parts of
literary texts, showing how this work helps cultural
exchange and understanding.
METHODS
This study primarily utilized a descriptive and analytical
approach to explore the challenges and solutions in
translating culture-
specific items from “Saodat Asri
Qissalari” by Ahmad Lutfi Kazanchi. We focused on
Peter Newmark's translation strategies to navigate the
complexities of transferring cultural and semantic
meanings from Uzbek into English.
Literature Review: We extensively reviewed academic
literature on translation studies, particularly focusing
on works by Peter Newmark and other scholars who
specialize in translating culture-specific units. This
literature provided a foundational understanding of
the various methods used in literary translation.
Textual Analysis: The core of our research involved a
close textual analysis of “Saodat Asri Qissalari.” We
identified and categorized culture-specific units into
conceptual metaphors, phraseological units, image-
bearing concepts, and cultural concepts. This
classification helped us systematically approach the
translation process.
Translation
Strategies:
Based
on
Newmar
k’s
framework, we applied specific strategies such as
descriptive equivalence, cultural equivalence, and
direct translation. Each strategy was chosen based on
the nature of the culture-specific item and the intended
effect on the English-speaking audience.
Case Studies: We presented detailed case studies of
selected fragments from the text. These examples
demonstrated how each translation strategy was
implemented and the reasoning behind our choices to
maintain the integrity and richness of the original text.
Feedback and Revision: Preliminary translations were
reviewed and revised based on feedback from experts
in both Uzbek and English literary studies. This iterative
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process ensured that translations were not only
accurate but also resonant with the intended audience.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
This study
employed a qualitative research
methodology to analyze the translation of culture-
specific units from Uzbek into English within “Saodat
Asri Qissalari” by Ahmad Lutfi Kazanchi. The
methodology was designed to capture the nuances of
language and culture inherent in the translation
process.
Text Selection: The primary source for this study was
“Saodat Asri Qissalari.” Specific passages containing
conceptual metaphors and phraseological units were
selected for detailed analysis based on their
significance in the text and the complexity of their
cultural content.
Analytical Framework: Drawing from Newmark’s
translation strategies, an analytical framework was
established to guide the translation of the selected
text fragments. This framework included descriptive
equivalence,
cultural
equivalence,
and
direct
translation, chosen based on their applicability to the
nature of each culture-specific unit.
Data Collection: The data comprised the original text in
Uzbek and the translated fragments in English. Each
translation was documented along with annotations
explaining the choice of translation strategy and any
cultural or semantic nuances addressed in the process.
Data Analysis: The translated data were analyzed to
assess how effectively each strategy conveyed the
original text's meaning, emotion, and cultural depth.
This involved comparing the original and translated
texts and evaluating the clarity, accuracy, and cultural
appropriateness of the translations.
Expert Consultation: To ensure the accuracy and
appropriateness of the translations, feedback was
sought from experts in Uzbek literature, English
translation, and cultural studies. Their insights helped
refine the translations and validate the methodology.
Ethical Considerations: Throughout the research,
ethical considerations were adhered to, including
respecting the intellectual property of the original text
and ensuring transparency in the translation and
analysis process.
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
Lakoff and Johnson organize so-called conceptual
metaphors into the following categories: structural,
orientational, and ontological. These conceptual
metaphors are how we understand and view our
actions, thoughts, and emotions.
Structural metaphors, as Povozhaev puts it, are “one
concept structured by another
”. While these types of
metaphors can be useful, Lakoff and Johnson offer the
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idea of highlighting and hiding to help get an idea of
how people use them. When people do this, they focus
on one part of the metaphor but forget the other
aspect of it and they
can develop a “focused
understanding by way of shared entailment”
(Povozhaev 2013). Choosing to focus on one aspect of
the metaphor enables us to understand only half of
what is being said. Orientational metaphors are unlike
structural ones as they organ
ize “a whole system of
concepts with respect to one another” (Lakoff and
Johnson 1980). These metaphors use the idea of spatial
relationships. We come to understand these types of
metaphors from experiences with the mind, the div,
and the world around us. These ideas can also come
from a cultural standpoint. But within one metaphor,
there are variations of these concepts. They can all
exist together in one big metaphor. Having these
different variations can allow us to look at the
metaphor at different angles.
The last type of conceptual metaphor that Lakoff and
Johnson speak about is ontological metaphors. These
types of metaphors help us in “understanding our
experience in terms of objects and substances [that
allow] us to pick out parts of our experience and treat
them as discrete entities or substances of a uniform
kind” (Lakoff and Johnson). Personifying things can
help us understand them better and “categorize them,
group them, and quantify them
—
and, by this means,
reason with them” (Lakoff and Johnso
n). When we
think of something as an entity or substance, we can
connect with the different sides of whatever that
something is. According to Aixela, J. F. (1996), CSIs are,
“elements of the text that are connected to certain
concepts in the foreign culture (history, art, literature)
which might be unknown to the readers of the TT” .
Therefore, it can be inferred that culture-specific items
(CSIs) create a notable gap between the source
language (SL) and the target language (TL). This gap
arises when an element in the source text (ST) lacks
equivalence in the target culture, or when the target
language lacks a corresponding term. To bridge these
cultural differences and ensure a translation that
accurately reflects the original text, translation
scholars have proposed various strategies and
methodologies.
Newmark
introduces
different
strategies for translating CSIs; for our project, we have
applied a selection of these strategies specifically
tailored to the translation fragments of “Saodat Asri
Qissalari.”
Below, we outline the strategies we
employed during our translation process by
Newmark’s (1988) taxonomy. They include:
Transference: It is the process of transferring an SL
word to a TL text as a translation procedure. It includes
transliteration, which relates to the conversion of
different alphabets: for example, Russian (Cyrillic),
Greek, Arabic, and so on into English. The word, then,
becomes a loan word. It includes transliteration and is
the same as what is called transcription.
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Naturalization: It conforms the SL word first to the
normal pronunciation, then, to the normal morphology
of the TL.
Cultural Equivalent: It intends replacing a cultural word
in the SL with an, although not accurate, TL word.
Functional Equivalent: In this procedure, a culture-free
word is used, sometimes a new specific term is used;
therefore, it generalizes the SL word.
Descriptive Equivalent: In this procedure, the meaning
of the CBT is explained in several words.
Componential Analysis: It means comparing an SL
word with a TL word which has a similar meaning,
although not being its one-to-one equivalent, by
presenting, first, their common, and then, their
differing sense components.
Synonymy: It is a near TL equivalent. Here economy
trumps accuracy.
Through-Translation: It is the literal translation of
common collocations, names of organizations and
components of compounds. It can also be called:
calque or loan translation.
Shifts or Transpositions: It involves a change in the
grammar from SL to TL, e.g., (i) change from singular
to plural; (ii) when a specific SL structure does not exist
in the TL, a change is required; (iii) change of an SL verb
to a TL word, change of an SL noun group to a TL noun,
and so forth.
Modulation: It occurs when the translator reproduces
the message of the original text in the TL text in
accordance with the current norms of the TL, because
the SL and the TL may be different in perspective.
Recognized Translation: It occurs when the translator
normally uses the official or the generally accepted
translation of any institutional term.
Compensation: It occurs when loss of meaning in one
part of a sentence is compensated in another part.
Paraphrase: In paraphrasing, the meaning of the CBT is
explained. The explanation in paraphrasing is much
more detailed than in descriptive equivalent.
Couplets: It occurs when the translator applies two
different procedures together.
Notes, Additions, Glosses: These are additional
information which a translator may have to add to his
version; the additional information that the translator
adds is normally cultural.
Having outlined Newmark's strategies for translating
culture-specific units, we now delve into their practical
application.
Table.1
Example Descriptive Equivalence
of applied in translating CSUs in
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“Saodat asri qissalari”
Source text (Uzbek)
Translated text (English)
Necha yuz yillar davom etgan tussiz hayot...
bu hayot ichidagi yaxshi-yomon ibrat olish
mumkin bo'lgan e'tiqod, axloq, odat va
ananalar...
undan keyin ilohiy amr xilpiratgan tavhid
bayrog'i va haq bilan botil orasida yuzaga
kelgan buyuk kurash...[6:3]
Through the passage of countless years, an
empty, life without purpose...
Within this existence, a blending of the good and
the bad, encompassing beliefs, customs, and
traditions from which valuable lessons can be
drawn... And then the epic battle emerges,
unfurling the sacred banner of tawhid where
truth stands against the veils of deception.
Translation Analysis:
Challenge: The phrase “tussiz hayot” represents a
conceptual metaphor that presents significant
translation challenges. Its literal translation, “saltless
life,” might not convey the intended metaphorical
meaning to an English-speaking audience, as the
cultural significance of salt in Uzbek culture
—
symbolizing vitality and fulfillment
—
is not universally
recognized.
Solution: The strategy of Descriptive Equivalence was
applied to address this issue. This approach involved
replacing the culturally specific and metaphorical term
“tussiz hayot” with “life without purpose.” This
translation choice provides a clear and understandable
equivalent that retains the metaphor’s depth and
aligns with the cultural context of the target audience.
Alternative Strategy: Addition of a Gloss
To retain the original term “tussiz hayot” in the
translation, followed by a brief explanatory gloss in
parentheses.
This approach keeps the original cultural term,
preserving its authenticity, while the added gloss (“life
devoid of fulfill
ment”) ensures that the metaphor’s
meaning is accessible to English-speaking readers. This
method respects the source text's cultural richness
while clarifying its meaning.
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Table.2
Example of Descriptive Equivalence applied in translating CSUs in
“Saodat asri qissalari”
Source text (Uzbek)
Translated text (English)
Bu hodisa Halimani ham, Horisni ham
xiylagina dovdiratib qo`ydi. Halima oqshomga
qadar ichiga chiroq yoqsa yorishmay, ko`zlari
g`amli, o`y bosib yurdi. Horisning ham boshi
egik edi.
Hayotlari guldek yashnab kechayotgan paytda
birdaniga bu hodisaning sodi bo`lishi ko`ngliga
xush yoqadigan narsa emas edi.
[6:61]
Harith and Halima were speechless, unsure
of how to respond. They spent the whole day
feeling consumed by
anxiety
, with a sense of
sadness in their eyes. Their peaceful life,
usually filled with blessings, was suddenly
overshadowed by this confusing incident.
Translation Analysis:
Challenge: The phrase “Ichiga chiroq yoqsa
yorishmaslik” literally translates to “even if a lamp is lit
inside, it won't shine.” This metaphor describes a state
where no matter what efforts are made to brighten
one's mood, the overwhelming anxiety or sadness
cannot be alleviated.
The challenge is translating this metaphor in a way that
maintains its vivid imagery and emotional depth, which
may not be directly understood by an English-speaking
audience.
Solution: The chosen strategy of Descriptive Equivalent
was used in the translation “feeling consumed by
anxiety,
” which captures the essence of the metaphor,
expressing how deep emotional turmoil can
overshadow all aspects of one's life.
This phrase conveys the psychological burden and the
overpowering nature of the feelings described, akin to
the original metaphor's portrayal of an internal
struggle that light cannot dispel.
Alternative Strategy: Cultural equivalence
Use “a light dimmed by shadows within” to convey the
depth of internal turmoil using familiar imagery of light
and darkness, symbolizing the overshadowing of
peace by anxiety or sadness. This preserves the
original’s poetic tone and emotional depth.
Having explored the challenges of translating culture-
specific words within our research focus and provided
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our approach to translation and solutions for some of
the conceptual metaphors, we now shift our attention
to another type of culture-bound units: phraseological
units.
Phraseological units are fixed expressions in language
that consist of two or more words whose combination
conveys a specific meaning beyond the literal
meanings of the individual words. They are
characterized by their stability and resistance to
modification.
To establish clarity on the concept of phraseological
units, it is beneficial to adopt A.V. Koonin's precise
definition: “Phraseo
logical units is a separable
combinability of words with the analyzed meaning and
a definite stability at phraseological level” (Kuzmin,
2007) .
Table.3
Example of Cultural equivalence
applied in translating CSUs in
“Saodat asri qissalari”
Source text (Uzbek)
Translated text (English)
- Biron nima desang-chi ey Abu Sufyon!-dedi.
- Xo`sh , o`zing nega indamaysan Umayya,
xudo haqqi anavi og`aynilaringni qishlog`iga
borganingdan keyin og`zinga talqon solib
qo`ygansan deb o`ylagan edim. xech seni bu
holatda ko`rgan emasman. nimalar bo`lganini
tushuntirsang-chi?
[6:269]
- “Say something, Abu Sufyan,” Umayyah
prompted.
- “Well, why aren't you taking action yourself,
Umayyah?
for God's sake!
After your visit to your relatives' village, it seems
you've bitten your tongue, I've never seen you
in such a state before”. What could have
happened?” Abu Sufyan retorted.
Translation Analysis:
Challenge: The phrase “og'zinga talqon solib
qo'ygansan” literally translates as “you h
ave put flour
in your mouth,” which metaphorically represents
withholding speech or remaining silent in a sensitive
situation. This expression, deeply embedded in cultural
context, might not resonate directly with English
speakers due to its specific cultural imagery.
Solution: Employing a “Cultural Equivalent” strategy,
the translation “you've bitten your tongue” was used.
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This English idiom conveys a similar notion of self-
imposed silence, especially in contexts where speaking
might lead to conflict or be deemed inappropriate. It
captures the essence of the original phrase by
providing an English equivalent that carries the same
connotations of restraint in speech.
Alternative Strategy: Descriptive Equivalent Translate
as “you have chosen to remain silent.” This directly
explains the idiom, ensuring clarity for English-
speaking audiences without cultural context.
This approach may be more explicit and clearer,
especially for an audience unfamiliar with the English
idiom, ensuring that the translation is accessible to all.
Table.4
Example Cultural equivalence of applied in translating CSUs in
“Saodat asri qissalari”
Source text (Uzbek)
Translated text (English)
So`zlaringizni unga uqtirishga urinib
ko`raman, bu masalani xal qilishga qo`limdan
kelgancha g`ayrat qilaman. deya oldi xolos.
Ular chiqib ketganlaridan so`ng boshini
qo`llarining orasiga olib, uzoq vaqt o`ylanib
qoldi. pastga tupuray desa, soqoliga,
balandga tupuray desa mo`yloviga tegadi...
[6:375]
The only response he could muster was, 'I will
attempt to convey your words to him, and I will
strive to address this matter,'.
After they departed the chamber. Placing his
hands on either side of his head, he pondered
deeply for a long time. He found himself
caught between a rock and a hard place, torn
between conflicting choices...
Translation Analysis:
Challenge: The Uzbek idiom “pastga tupuray desa,
soqoliga, balandga tupuray desa mo`yloviga tegadi”
presents a significant translation challenge. Literal
Meaning: It translates roughly to “if you spit down, it
lands on your beard, if you spit up, it lands on your
hair.” This idiom relies on a specific cultural image –
spitting upwards and downwards both resulting in
getting yourself dirty. This is a unique expression in
Uzbek that doesn’t have a direct equivalent in English.
The challenge here is to convey the implied meaning of
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this idiom in a way that English speakers can
understand.
Solution: We translated this idiom using the strategy of
Cultural Equivalent. We replaced the Uzbek idiom with
an English idiom “caught between a rock and a hard
place” that c
onveys a similar meaning. Both idioms
imply a situation where someone is in a dilemma or
facing a difficult decision.
Alternative Strategies: Explanation: Though the
chosen approach works well, the translator could
consider adding a brief explanation within brackets:
“(He found himself caught between a rock and a hard
place)
–
a difficult situation with no easy choices.” This
clarifies the idiom's meaning without disrupting the
flow of the narrative.
CONCLUSION
This article has explored the profound complexities
involved in translating culture-specific units from
“Saodat Asri Qissalari” into English, highlighting the
indispensable role of Newmark's strategies in bridging
the linguistic and cultural gaps. Through the
application of descriptive, cultural, and functional
equivalents, we have navigated the intricacies of
conceptual metaphors, phraseological units, and
idiomatic expressions to ensure that the translated
text maintains the depth and nuance of the original.
Our analysis revealed the challenges posed by
metaphors like “tussiz hayot” and idiomatic
expressions
such
as
“og'zinga
talqon
solib
qo'ygansan,” underscoring the necessity of thoughtful
translation strategies to convey the intended
meanings effectively. By employing strategies like
descriptive equivalence and cultural equivalence, we
were able to adapt these units into English without
losing their cultural significance or emotional impact.
Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of
a methodical approach to translation, where
understanding the source text's cultural and linguistic
context is as crucial as the linguistic transfer itself. This
approach not only enhances the readability of the
translated text for English-speaking audiences but also
preserves the cultural richness and authenticity of the
original work.
In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that a nuanced
understanding of both the source and target cultures,
combined with a strategic use of translation
methodologies, is essential for the successful
translation of literature enriched with cultural and
historical contexts. This research contributes valuable
insights into the field of translation studies and offers
a framework for future translations of culturally dense
literary works.
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2.
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