UNTRANSLATABLE IDIOMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK FICTION

Abstract

Phraseological units and idiomatic expressions represent one of the most culturally marked and semantically complex layers of language. Some idioms are considered partially or fully untranslatable because their meanings, metaphorical imagery, pragmatic functions, and cultural associations cannot be reproduced directly in another language. This article investigates untranslatable idioms in English and Uzbek fiction and analyzes the linguistic and cultural factors that complicate their translation. The study applies a qualitative contrastive and translation-oriented approach based on the theories of Vinogradov, Kunin, Nida, Baker, Newmark, and House. Literary examples from English and Uzbek fictional works are examined according to semantic structure, stylistic function, metaphorical imagery, and translation strategy. The findings demonstrate that untranslatability frequently emerges because of cultural asymmetry, metaphorical incompatibility, historical specificity, and pragmatic differences. The study further reveals that translators often rely on functional substitution, paraphrasing, compensation, and contextual adaptation to preserve communicative effect