IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEMS IN TRANSLATING ENGLISH PROVERBS INTO UZBEK

Аннотация

Proverbs represent the collective wisdom, cultural norms, and linguistic features of a language community. Translating proverbs from English into Uzbek is a complex task that goes beyond linguistic equivalence. This article aims to identify and analyze the major challenges faced during the translation process, focusing on cultural, linguistic, and semantic aspects. The study highlights the necessity of cultural sensitivity and interpretative flexibility when dealing withproverb translation. Key words: proverb translation, cultural equivalence, idiomatic expressions, English-Uzbek translation, linguisticchallenges 1.Introduction Proverbs are concise, metaphorical expressions that convey universal truths, advice, or moral lessons. Due to their cultural specificity, translating proverbs is considered one of the most difficult tasks in the field of translation studies. When translating English proverbs into Uzbek, translators frequently encounter issues that stem from differences in culture, language structure, idiomatic usage, and conceptual worldview. This article explores these issues and provides insights into possiblestrategies for overcoming them. 2.CulturalDifferences Culture plays a central role in the formation and interpretation of proverbs. English and Uzbek societies have distinct cultural experiences and values, which are often reflected in their proverbial expressions. A literal translation of a proverb may sound unnatural or even meaningless in thetarget language ifcultural contextis not taken into account. Example: English: "The early bird catches theworm." ClosestUzbek equivalent: "Erta turganning rizqiko‘p." Although both proverbs emphasize the benefits of waking up early, they use different imagery rooted in theirrespective cultures. 3.Lackof Exact Equivalents Many English proverbs do not have a direct equivalent in Uzbek. In such cases, translators musteither find an approximateequivalent or explainthemeaning ina paraphrased form. Example: English: "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch." page385 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue05,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai Uzbek: No exact equivalent; possible paraphrase: "Ish bitmasdan oldin quvonma." (Do not rejoicebefore thetask is completed.) 4.Idiomaticand FigurativeLanguage Proverbs often contain idiomatic expressions or figurative language that does not translate easily into another language. Translating these expressions literally may result in loss of meaning ormisinterpretation. Example: English: "Curiosity killed thecat." Literal translation into Uzbek may confuse readers unfamiliar with the metaphorical use of animals inEnglish culture. 5.Structural and Syntactic Differences English and Uzbek differ significantly insyntax, grammar, and word order. These differences can make direct translation awkward orgrammatically incorrect. Example: English: "A stitch intimesaves nine." Uzbek:Literal translation lacks clarity; itmust beadapted toreflect urgency and prevention. 6.SemanticChallenges and ConnotativeDifferences Words or expressions in a source language may carry different connotations in the target language. A word-for-word translation may therefore result in unintended meanings or emotionaltones. Example: English: "Let sleeping dogs lie." In Uzbek, the concept of “letting sleeping dogs lie” may need to be interpreted in terms of avoidingtrouble, possiblyusing adifferent metaphor altogether. 7.RiskofMisinterpretation When a proverb is mistranslated or misinterpreted, its original meaning can be distorted. This is particularly problematic in educational or literary contexts where the proverb's function is didacticorrhetorical. 8. Conclusion. Translating English proverbs into Uzbek is a delicate process that involves more than linguistic equivalence. It requires an understanding of both source and target cultures, as well as flexibility in adapting figurative expressions. Translators must be cautious not only to convey the literal meaning but also to preserve the cultural and emotional resonanceof theoriginal proverb. Future research may focus on compiling a bilingual proverb dictionary or developing standardized strategies forculturally adaptive translations. page386 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue05,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai