PRESERVING CULTURAL IDENTITY IN LITERARY TRANSLATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK TEXTS

Abstract

Literary translation is not merely the process of transferring words from one language into another; it is also a process of transferring cultural meanings, traditions, values, and national identity. Cultural identity is deeply embedded in literary texts through culture-specific items, idioms, traditional foods, clothing, personal names, religious concepts, historical references, social customs, and forms of address. When such elements are translated, translators face the challenge of maintaining the original cultural meaning while making the text understandable to readers of the target language. This article examines the importance of preserving cultural identity in literary translation, with particular attention to English and Uzbek texts. It discusses major challenges associated with translating culture-specific elements and analyzes commonly used translation strategies, including borrowing, calque, literal translation, adaptation, substitution, explanation, addition, omission, and compensation. The article argues that an effective literary translation should achieve a balance between cultural preservation and target-reader accessibility. Preserving cultural identity enables readers to experience the social and historical atmosphere of the original work while developing a deeper understanding of another culture