CULTURAL EQUIVALENCE IN ENGLISH-UZBEK TRANSLATION: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Cultural equivalence is one of the most significant challenges in translation studies, particularly when translating between languages that belong to different linguistic and cultural systems. English and Uzbek represent distinct cultural traditions, social norms, historical experiences, and value systems, making the process of achieving cultural equivalence particularly complex. This study investigates the concept of cultural equivalence in English-Uzbek translation, focusing on the challenges translators encounter when dealing with culture-specific items, idiomatic expressions, proverbs, customs, and culturally bound references. The study employs a qualitative research approach based on textual analysis of translated materials and existing literature in translation studies. The findings indicate that literal translation often fails to convey the intended cultural meaning, whereas strategies such as adaptation, cultural substitution, explanation, and functional equivalence contribute to more effective communication. The study highlights the importance of intercultural competence in translation and emphasizes the need for translators to possess both linguistic and cultural knowledge. The findings contribute to the growing body of research on translation between English and Uzbek and provide practical recommendations for translators, educators, and students involved in translation activities.