The Concept of Equivalence and Its Types in Literary Translation

Abstract

In translation studies, the concept of equivalence plays a crucial role in ensuring that the translated text maintains the meaning, function, and cultural context of the original. Literary translation demands particular attention to stylistic, emotional, and idiomatic nuances, making equivalence more than a literal reproduction. Scholars such as Jakobson, Nida, Catford, and Newmark have explored various models of equivalence, ranging from formal to dynamic, functional, and communicative approaches. Despite extensive theoretical discussions, practical applications of equivalence types—especially communicative and idiomatic—in English to Uzbek translation remain underexplored, particularly with culturally embedded expressions and proverbs. This article aims to analyze different types of equivalence in literary translation from English into Uzbek, with a focus on lexical, grammatical, communicative, idiomatic, and transformational levels. The study demonstrates that effective translation requires selecting the appropriate equivalence strategy based on context and communicative intent. Examples show that literal translation may fail to convey the intended meaning, and thus communicative and idiomatic approaches are often necessary for natural and culturally resonant translations. By providing detailed comparative examples and highlighting how translators navigate structural, semantic, and cultural differences, the article enriches our understanding of equivalence in a specific language pair—English and Uzbek. The findings underscore the importance of translator competence not only in language but also in cultural literacy, which is essential for preserving the artistic and emotional impact of literary texts across languages.