NATIONAL-CULTURAL AND PRAGMATIC ADAPTATION STRATEGIES IN TRANSLATING UZBEK HUMOR INTO ENGLISH

Abstract

The translation of Uzbek humor into English presents complex challenges due to the interplay of national-cultural realities, linguistic structures, and pragmatic intentions embedded in humorous discourse. Uzbek humor often relies on wordplay, culturally specific idioms, intertextual references, social norms, and context-dependent pragmatic cues, which do not always have direct equivalents in English. This study examines the main strategies of national-cultural and pragmatic adaptation used in English translations of Uzbek humorous expressions, anecdotes, and conversational jokes. Drawing on linguistic pragmatics, cultural semiotics, and translation theory, the research identifies how translators employ techniques such as cultural substitution, explicitation, pragmatic strengthening, functional equivalence, and compensatory humor creation to preserve both the humorous effect and the communicative intent of the source text. The findings show that successful translation of Uzbek humor requires not only lexical and structural transformation but also deep sensitivity to cultural worldview, sociolinguistic norms, and the interactive functions of humor. The study contributes to current scholarship by highlighting adaptive mechanisms that ensure intercultural comprehensibility while maintaining the original humorous nuance.