The Intercultural Translation of Phraseologisms: A Contrastive Comparison Between Uzbek and German

Abstract

Phraseological units are integral to language and culture, often encapsulating shared experiences, historical references, and societal norms. The translation of phraseologisms between culturally distinct languages such as Uzbek and German presents significant challenges due to differences in idiomatic structures, symbolism, and socio-cultural references. While much research has addressed general translation strategies, there remains a lack of focused, contrastive analysis on the intercultural translation of phraseologisms between Uzbek and German. This study aims to examine the semantic, pragmatic, and cultural dimensions of phraseologism translation between these two languages, identifying key challenges and evaluating the effectiveness of various translation strategies. The findings demonstrate that literal translation is often insufficient due to pragmatic incongruence or cultural inappropriateness. Effective translation frequently requires functional equivalents, cultural substitution, or complete rephrasing to preserve meaning and communicative intent. German expressions involving culturally sensitive imagery, such as alcohol or animal references, often demand significant adaptation when translated into Uzbek. By analyzing more than fifty phraseological units and offering context-sensitive comparisons, this research provides a rare insight into the intersection of language, culture, and translation. The study underscores the need for intercultural competence and contextual awareness in translation practice. It suggests that phraseologism translation is not a purely linguistic task but a culturally embedded act that requires translators to navigate symbolic nuances to achieve semantic and emotional fidelity in the target language.