THE INFLUENCE OF LITERARY TRANSLATION ON THE REPRESENTATION OF THE HORSE IMAGE

Аннотация

В литературных текстах лошадь часто символизирует силу, свободу, верность или культурное наследие. Однако ее образ и символическое значение могут быть изменены или обогащены в зависимости от выбора переводчика. В этой статье рассматривается, как литературный перевод влияет на представление образа лошади, как культурно обусловленная символика передается между языками и какова роль понимания переводчиком как исходной, так и целевой культур в передаче этого мощного образа. Ключевые слова: художественный перевод, символика, образ лошади, культурная адаптация, стратегии перевода. Annotatisya:Badiiy matnlarda ot ko'pincha kuch, erkinlik, sadoqat yoki madaniy merosni anglatadi. Biroq, uning tasviri va ramziy ma'nosi tarjimonning tanloviga qarab o'zgartirilishi yoki boyitishi mumkin. Ushbu maqolada adabiy tarjima ot obrazining ifodalanishiga qanday ta'sir qilishi, madaniyatga bog'liq bo'lgan simvolizm tillar bo'ylab qanday uzatilishi va tarjimonning ushbu kuchli tasvirni etkazishda manba va maqsadli madaniyatlardan xabardorligi rolini o'rganadi. Tayanch so’zlar: badiiy tarjima, simvolizm, ot obrazi, madaniy moslashuv, tarjima strategiyalari Translation is not merely a mechanical process of converting words from one language into another. Especially in literary texts, translation becomes a delicate art that carries cultural, emotional, and symbolic meanings across linguistic borders. The image of the horse is one of the most vivid and recurring symbols in world literature. 396 "ZAMONAVIY TILSHUNOSLIK VA TARJIMASHUNOSLIKNING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI" mavzusidagi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy anjuman In some cultures, it is associated with nobility and war; in others, with independence and nature. Yet, the way this image is interpreted by readers largely depends on the translator’s ability to preserve or adapt its meaning. Literary translators must consider the cultural context, stylistic nuances, and symbolic weight behind the representation of the horse. Translation of symbolic imagery - like that of a horse - goes beyond lexicon. It requires sensitivity to cultural traditions, emotional connotations, and genre- specific expectations. When this sensitivity is missing, the power of the horse image may be weakened or misrepresented in the target language. Cultural dimensions of the horse image In many cultures, the horse is a symbol with deep historical and emotional resonance. For example, in Uzbek literature, the horse often represents not just transportation or strength, but a companion in war, a link to ancestral heritage, or a metaphor for personal dignity. In English-language texts, horses may carry connotations of the Wild West, of freedom and individualism. The challenge for the translator lies in identifying whether to preserve the original connotation or to adapt it to something more familiar for the target readership. This choice is shaped by the translator’s knowledge of cultural codes and literary traditions. According to Newmark1, symbolic translation should aim to maintain both the meaning and the emotional force of the original symbol, even if it requires some cultural explanation or footnoting. For instance, in translating a line like “U yerni tuyoqlari bilan tepib, ko‘zdan g‘oyib bo‘ldi”, a literal version may not convey the full drama and symbolic finality of the horse’s disappearance. An experienced translator might instead write: “He vanished into the horizon, hoof beats echoing like a fading heartbeat of the wild.” Such renderings show the translator’s role not only as a linguist but as a cultural mediator. The translator’s role in artistic interpretation A literary translator plays an active role in shaping how the image of the horse is perceived in the target language. This responsibility includes interpreting metaphors, emotional tone, and even the rhythm of sentences. As Mona Baker2 points out, translation is an act of re-creation, not reproduction. If the horse in the source text embodies the spirit of resistance, the translated text must also evoke similar emotions, whether through equivalent metaphors or strategic lexical choices. Often, translators face the dilemma of either domesticating the image -making it relatable for the target reader - or foreignizing it, keeping its exotic flavor to emphasize cultural difference. Both strategies have strengths and weaknesses. A domesticated image may lose the original cultural richness, while a foreignized image may confuse the reader. The 1 Ньюмарк П. Учебник перевода. — М.: Вече, 2001. — 256 с. 2 Бейкер М. В других словах: Учебник по переводу / пер. с англ. — М.: Издательство ЛКИ, 2007. — 296 с 397 "ZAMONAVIY TILSHUNOSLIK VA TARJIMASHUNOSLIKNING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI" mavzusidagi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy anjuman translator must decide which effect better serves the text's purpose. Moreover, the translator must be aware of genre conventions. A horse described in poetic prose requires different stylistic choices than one portrayed in historical fiction or children’s li