PECULIARITIES OF TRANSLATING PHYTONYMS IN LITERARY TEXTS: BASED ON RUSSIAN, UZBEK, AND TURKISH LITERARY WORKS

This thesis examines the linguistic, stylistic, and cultural characteristics of translating phytonyms in literary texts based on examples from Russian, Uzbek, and Turkish literature. Phytonyms, including the names of trees, flowers, herbs, fruits, and other plants, often perform not only a nominative function but also symbolic, metaphorical, emotional, and national-cultural functions in fiction. The study focuses on culturally significant plant names such as the Russian birch and rowan, the Uzbek chinor, mulberry, pomegranate, and rayhon, as well as the Turkish rose, tulip, and cypress. A comparative and contextual analysis is used to identify similarities and differences in their literary meanings and translation patterns. The findings show that direct translation is generally effective when an equivalent plant name and similar cultural associations exist in the target language. However, culturally marked phytonyms may require transliteration, descriptive translation, contextual explanation, specification, or translator’s notes. The study concludes that an adequate translation should preserve not only the botanical meaning of the phytonym but also its imagery, stylistic function, symbolic associations, and national character. The translator’s choice should therefore be determined by the literary context, genre, cultural background, and intended audience.