National Identity and Cultural Realities in Literary Translation

The preservation of national identity is one of the most significant challenges in literary translation. Culture-specific words, commonly referred to as realia, reflect the traditions, customs, lifestyle, historical background, and cultural values of a particular nation. Their appropriate translation plays an essential role in preserving the artistic image and cultural authenticity of literary works. This study examines the importance of national identity in literary translation and analyzes the major strategies used to translate culture-specific vocabulary. Particular attention is paid to transliteration, analogy, calque, and explanatory translation. Examples from Uzbek literary works, including the works of Mirtemir, Abdulla Qodiriy, and Pirimqul Qodirov, are examined to identify the advantages and limitations of these translation strategies. The study demonstrates that the successful translation of national realities requires not only linguistic competence but also a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and historical background of the source text. The findings highlight the importance of selecting translation strategies according to the cultural and semantic characteristics of individual expressions.