PROBLEM OF CONVEYING ETHNOGRAPHIC LACUNAE AND PRESERVING REALIA IN TRANSLATIONS OF KAZHIGALI MUKHANBETKALIULY’S NOVEL “TROUBLED TIMES”

Abstract

This article addresses the problem of conveying culture-specific vocabulary in literary translation. The study is based on the novel “Troubled times” by Kazhigali Mukhanbetkaliuly, set in 18^th century Kazakhstan. The focus is on four Kazakh ethnographic lexemes such as nagashy, zhien, kyryk serkesh beru, and basire, and the translation techniques used in their Russian and English versions. Through a comprehensive linguocultural, comparative, and translation analysis, several translation techniques were identified: approximate translation, descriptive translation, omission, concretization, generalization, literal translation and transliteration with a footnote. The analysis showed full consistency between the English and Russian translations, as the English version was based on the Russian text. In both cases, the strategy of domestication prevails. The study provides practical value for literary translators and researchers working with non-equivalent vocabulary. Further research may focus on developing glossaries and methodological guidelines for translating ethnographic lacunae and realia, tailored to specific language pairs.