TRANSLATION OF NATIONAL RITUAL VOCABULARY IN THE ABSENCE OF DIRECT EQUIVALENTS (UZBEK–ENGLISH PERSPECTIVE)

Abstract

National ritual vocabulary represents a culturally marked layer of language that poses serious challenges in translation, especially when direct equivalents are absent in the target language. This article examines the translation of Uzbek national ritual vocabulary into English, focusing on culturally specific realia related to customs, ceremonies, and social practices. The study aims to identify the main linguistic and cultural difficulties encountered in translation and to analyze effective strategies for rendering ritual terms without direct equivalents. The research is based on descriptive and comparative methods, drawing on examples from literary texts, ethnographic descriptions, and translation practice. The findings demonstrate that descriptive translation, transliteration with commentary, cultural substitution, and combined strategies are the most productive methods for preserving both semantic content and cultural meaning. The article highlights the importance of linguistic and cultural competence in translating national ritual vocabulary and contributes to the broader discussion of cultural realia in translation studies.