PRESERVING CULTURAL MEANING IN THE TRANSLATION OF PROVERBS

Abstract

Proverbs are among the most culturally significant elements of language, reflecting the values, traditions, beliefs, and collective wisdom of a speech community. Due to their figurative nature and strong cultural associations, translating proverbs presents a considerable challenge. This article explores the importance of preserving cultural meaning in the translation of proverbs, with particular attention to Uzbek and English paremiological units. The study examines common translation strategies, discusses cultural and linguistic difficulties, and analyzes examples of proverb translation. The findings suggest that successful proverb translation requires not only linguistic competence but also deep intercultural awareness to maintain both semantic and cultural equivalence.