CULTURE SHOCK IN TRANSLATION THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE ICEBERG CONCEPT

Abstract

This article examines culture shock in translation through the prism of Edward T. Hall’s Iceberg Model of Culture, focusing on Uzbek-English translation. The study argues that translation difficulties often arise not from linguistic form but from implicit cultural meanings embedded beneath the surface of language. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of literary, journalistic, and public discourse texts, the research demonstrates how culture-bound expressions, social titles, metaphors, and descriptive characterizations may be distorted or neutralized when translated without cultural adjustment. The findings show that literal translation frequently fails to convey culturally grounded values and evaluative meanings, resulting in semantic loss and reader disorientation. The article emphasizes the role of the translator as a cultural mediator and highlights the importance of strategies such as explicitation, cultural adaptation, and mediation for achieving intercultural equivalence. The study concludes that developing cognitive-cultural competence is essential for reducing culture shock in translation and ensuring meaningful intercultural communication.