CULTURAL REALIA IN TRANSLATION: ADAPTATION AND TRANSCRIPTION
Keywords:
cultural realia, adaptation, transcription, translation strategies, culture-specific items (csi), intercultural communication, uzbek-english translation, cultural equivalence, linguistic challenges, translational fidelityAbstract
This paper explores the linguistic and cultural challenges encountered when translating cultural realia—elements deeply embedded in a specific culture such as food, rituals, social institutions, and folklore—into English. It focuses on two major strategies: adaptation, which involves replacing culture-bound items with culturally equivalent ones in the target language, and transcription, which retains the original term, often with a gloss or explanation. Through theoretical analysis and practical examples from the Uzbek-English translation context, the study highlights how these approaches help translators navigate between fidelity to source culture and comprehensibility to the target audience. The findings emphasize that neither strategy is universally superior; rather, the choice must be dictated by textual purpose, genre, and target readership. By understanding these strategies, translators can make informed decisions that ensure both cultural authenticity and reader accessibility.
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