SEMANTIC AND STYLISTIC TRANSFORMATION OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN TRANSLATION

Аннотация

This article explores the semantic and stylistic transformations that figurative language undergoes during translation, with special attention to the Uzbek-English language pair. It examines how metaphors, idioms, similes, and other stylistic devices are interpreted and adapted when transferred across languages and cultures. The author analyzes translation strategies such as paraphrasing, cultural substitution, and semantic compression, which help maintain the emotional depth and artistic integrity of the source text. Uzbek figurative expressions rooted in folklore and rural imagery are discussed alongside their English counterparts to reveal the complexity and creativity involved in rendering culturally rich language. The findings support the idea that figurative translation is not merely a linguistic challenge, but a cross-cultural negotiation that requires both linguistic expertise and interpretive sensitivity. Keywords: figurative language, semantic transformation, stylistic adaptation, metaphor translation, Uzbek-English translation, cultural substitution, translation theory, linguistic equivalence, artisticexpression. Translation is far more than a technical transposition of words—it is an intricate artistic and intellectual endeavor that seeks to recreate meaning, tone, and cultural resonance across linguistic boundaries. Among the most challenging elements in this process is the treatment of figurative language, which includes metaphors, similes, idioms, personification, and other stylisticdevices that are often deeply rooted in thesource culture’s worldview. Figurative language serves not only as a vehicle for aesthetic beauty but also as a reflection of cultural identity, emotional nuance, and philosophical depth. However, when such expressions are transplanted into another language, they frequently undergo semantic and stylistic transformations. These shifts may involve reimagining metaphors to suit new cultural contexts, simplifying complex imagery for clarity, or preserving stylistic integrity even at the expense of literal accuracy. This article investigates the semantic and stylistic transformations that figurative language undergoes in the process of translation. It explores how translators navigate the delicate balance between fidelity to the original text and adaptation for the target audience, analyzing strategies that preserve or reshape figurative meaning. Through comparative examples and theoretical insights, the study sheds light on the translator’s role as both linguistic mediator and artistic interpreter. Figurative language plays a vital role in expressing cultural identity, emotional depth, and artistic nuance, making its accurate translation essential for cross-cultural understanding. In the context of Uzbek-English translation, this task becomes particularly significant due to the rich metaphorical and idiomatic traditions embedded in Uzbek literature and oral expression. Uzbek figurative expressions often reflect national values, folklore, and rural imagery, which may not have direct equivalents in English. As a result, translators must navigate semantic shifts and stylistic adaptations to preserve the original tone and meaning. For example, metaphors like “tilidan bol oqqan” (literally: “honey flows from his tongue”) require creative rendering to https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue6,2025 63 convey eloquence in English, such as “silver-tongued.” These transformations are not merely linguistic—they are interpretive acts that shape how cultures perceive one another. Therefore, studying the semantic and stylistic transformation of figurative language in Uzbek-English translation is crucial for maintaining literary integrity, fostering intercultural empathy, and enriching theglobal appreciation of Uzbek artisticexpression. The translation of figurative language has long been a central focus in both theoretical and practical domains of linguistics. Initially, figurative expressions such as metaphors, idioms, and similes were often treated as peripheral embellishments, leading to their simplification or omission in early translation strategies. However, with the introduction of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) by Lakoff and Johnson (1980), figurative language was redefined as a fundamental cognitive mechanism through which individuals interpret and structure their reality. This paradigm shift marked a significant turning point in translation studies, placing greater emphasis onthesemanticdepth and stylisticintegrity offigurative language. Under this framework, metaphor and other figurative devices are recognized as not only stylistic flourishes but also culturally embedded expressions. Scholars like Denroche (2022) argue that language itself is inherently figurative, with meaning shaped by construal and context. Consequently, translators must do more than match lexical items—they must reconstruct the “semantic space” of the source text in the target language. This is parti