A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CULTURAL AND STYLISTIC PRESERVATION IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF GAFUR GULOM’S “SHUM BOLA”

Abstract

This article explores the linguistic and cultural complexities involved in translating Gafur Gulom’s seminal picaresque novella, Shum Bola, from Uzbek into English. As a masterpiece defined by its rich use of the Tashkent dialect, traditional askiya (wit), and pastoral metaphors, the work presents a significant “linguistic wall” for translators. Using a qualitative comparative method, this study analyzes specific instances of translation loss, focusing on culture-specific items, idiomatic expressions, and stylistic registers. The findings reveal a persistent trend of semantic flattening and over-domestication, where vivid animal-based similes and nomadic architectural terms are replaced by generic English equivalents. Furthermore, the analysis highlights how the neutralization of the protagonist’s “street” register diminishes the irrepressible “Shum” spirit intended by the author. The study analyzes by suggesting that a move toward stylistic loyalty and dynamic equivalence is essential for preserving the ethnolinguistic identity of Uzbek literature in the global literary market. Rather than prioritizing simple readability, future translations should aim to preserve the rhythmic energy and metaphorical grit that define Gulom’s unique narrative voice.