Stylistic Issues in Translating Literary Works from

English to Uzbek (The Case of Agatha Christie's

Works)

Introduction

Literary translation is a complex process that involves more than just rendering words
from one language into another. It requires capturing the essence, tone, style, and
cultural nuances of the original text while ensuring that the translation feels natural
and meaningful to readers of the target language. Stylistic issues in literary translation
arise when the translator must navigate differences in linguistic structures, cultural
contexts, and stylistic choices between the source and target languages. This article
will explore the role of stylistics in literary translation and the challenges translators
face when dealing with stylistic features. Literary translation is a multifaceted
endeavor that goes beyond mere linguistic conversion. It involves not only
transferring words from one language to another but also capturing the essence of the
author's voice, tone, and cultural context. Among the many challenges that translators
face, stylistic issues stand out as particularly complex. Stylistics in translation refers
to the way linguistic elements—such as syntax, tone, rhythm, and word choice—are
handled to maintain the integrity and emotional impact of the original text. This
article aims to explore the stylistic challenges that arise when translating literary
works from one language to another, focusing specifically on how these challenges
affect the final product and the reading experience.

The importance of stylistics in translation cannot be overstated. Translating style is

not merely about finding equivalent words in the target language; it is about
conveying the same emotional tone, cultural nuances, and narrative voice as the
original. Every language has its unique syntactic structures, idiomatic expressions,
and cultural references, which makes the task of preserving the author's original style
both critical and challenging. A translator must not only understand the source text’s
meaning but also the way that meaning is conveyed through the stylistic choices of
the author.

This article will focus on the stylistic challenges that occur when translating literary
works from English to Uzbek. The specific works of Agatha Christie will be used as a
case study due to her distinct writing style, which blends intricate plots, detailed
character development, and rich dialogue. Her works present an ideal setting for
examining the translation of stylistic features such as dialogue, tone, metaphors, and
cultural references. By analyzing specific passages from Christie’s novels and their
translations into Uzbek, the article will highlight the strategies translators use to tackle
these stylistic challenges and the potential consequences for the target text.

1. What is Stylistics in Literary Translation?

Stylistics refers to the study of style in language—how language is used to convey
meaning, emotion, and tone. In literary translation, style encompasses:

 Lexical choice: The specific words and phrases used to convey meaning.
 Syntax: The arrangement of words and sentences in a particular structure.
 Tone and voice: The author's attitude and the personality conveyed through the writing.
 Figures of speech: The use of metaphors, similes, symbolism, and idiomatic expressions to
create vivid imagery or emotional impact.
 Narrative style: The overall manner in which the story is told, including point of view, pacing,
and character development.

A translator must carefully analyze these stylistic features in the source text and
recreate them in the target language, ensuring that the original author's voice and
intent are preserved.

2. Stylistic Challenges in Literary Translation

Several stylistic challenges arise in the process of literary translation. These

challenges stem from differences between languages, cultural contexts, and the
subjective nature of literary works.

2.1. Cultural Context and Idiomatic Expressions

One of the most significant stylistic challenges in translation is dealing with idiomatic
expressions and culturally specific references. Idioms, proverbs, and phrases often
have meanings that are deeply tied to the culture in which they originated. For
example, English idioms such as “kick the bucket” or “break the ice” do not have
direct equivalents in many languages. The translator must find ways to convey the
meaning without losing the impact or essence of the expression.

2.2. Metaphors and Imagery

Metaphors and figurative language are common in literature, and translating them
requires not only linguistic skill but also an understanding of the underlying cultural
connotations. A metaphor in the source language might not work in the target
language if the cultural context or imagery is different. For instance, a metaphor
involving animals, landscapes, or historical events might have a specific meaning in
the original language that doesn't translate easily to another culture. The translator
must decide whether to preserve the metaphor (if it has a similar resonance in the
target language) or find an alternative metaphor that conveys the same idea.

2.3. Tone and Voice

The tone of a literary work—whether it is formal, humorous, ironic, melancholic, or

sarcastic—often hinges on specific linguistic choices. Maintaining the same tone and
voice in the translation is critical but can be difficult. For example, a work written in a
light, conversational tone may become stilted or overly formal if translated too
literally. Similarly, a sarcastic or ironic tone may not always come through clearly in a
different language. Translators must balance accuracy with the preservation of tone to
ensure that the translated work resonates with readers in the target language in the
same way as the original.
2.4. Allusions and References

Literary works often make allusions to historical events, works of art, or literary
traditions that may not be immediately familiar to the target audience. These allusions
can be difficult to translate, as their impact may be lost on readers who do not share
the same cultural or historical context. In some cases, translators may need to provide
footnotes or explanations to clarify these references, but this can disrupt the flow of
the narrative. The challenge lies in deciding whether to preserve these allusions and
risk alienating the reader or adapt them to make them more accessible to the new
audience.

2.5. Sentence Structure and Syntax

Languages differ in how they structure sentences, and a direct translation of sentence
structure may result in awkward or unnatural phrasing in the target language. For
example, some languages, like German or Russian, have relatively flexible word
orders, while others, like English or Japanese, have more rigid syntactical rules. A
translator must navigate these differences while maintaining the original meaning,
rhythm, and flow of the text. In some cases, it may be necessary to restructure
sentences to fit the grammatical norms of the target language without losing the
impact of the original style.

3. Strategies for Addressing Stylistic Issues in

Translation

Translators often use various strategies to address the stylistic challenges of literary
translation:

Domestication: This approach involves adapting the translation to the culture

and norms of the target language. The translator may replace culturally
specific references with equivalents that make sense to the target audience. For
example, changing an English reference to "baseball" into a reference to
"soccer" for an audience in a country where soccer is more popular.

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Foreignization: This strategy preserves the foreign nature of the original text.
The translator keeps as much of the original linguistic and cultural flavor as
possible, even if it makes the text feel foreign to the target audience. This can
include leaving certain expressions or cultural references untranslated or using
a footnote to explain them.

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Adaptation: When a direct translation of a metaphor, idiom, or cultural

reference does not work, the translator may choose to adapt it to the target
 culture. For instance, an idiom related to a specific cultural event might be
replaced with a similar idiomatic expression from the target language.

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Literal translation with adjustments: In some cases, a literal translation may

be appropriate, but the translator may adjust specific phrases or words to
match the stylistic tone of the original text. This strategy works well when the
source language's meaning can be directly conveyed without altering the
stylistic nuances.

### 1. Tarjima va stilistika

Stilistika tarjimasi, asl asar tilining xususiyatlarini o'ziga

xos uslubiy elementlari bilan birga ko'chirishni anglatadi.
Badiiy asarlarni tarjima qilishda stilistik muammolar
ko'pincha quyidagi omillarga bog'liq bo'ladi:

- **Jargon va dialekt**: Ingliz tilida ishlatilgan maxsus

jargon yoki dialektning o'zbek tiliga to'g'ri o'girilishi, asar
ruhining saqlanishini ta'minlashda katta muammo
tug'dirishi mumkin.
- **Metafora va ismlar**: Badiiy asarlarda ko'pincha
metaforalar, andoza iboralar va o'ziga xos obrazlar
ishlatiladi. Bularni tarjima qilishda asarning estetik qiymati
va ma'nosi yo'qolmasligi uchun tarjimon mahorati talab
etiladi.
- **Frazologizm**: Ingliz tilidagi frazalar va idiomatik
iboralarni o'zbek tiliga to'g'ri tarjima qilishda ba'zi
misollarni olishimiz mumkin. Inglizcha "bated breath"
iborasi o'zbek tiliga "nafasni tiqib" yoki "xo'p, kutib turing"
deb tarjima qilinishi mumkin, ammo bu o'ziga xos
kontekstda noaniq yoki g'alati tovush berishi mumkin.

### 2. Agata Kristining Stilistik Xususiyatlari

Agata Kristi o'z asarlarida bir qator stilistik xususiyatlarga

ega. Uning uslubi asosan quyidagi elementlar bilan ajralib
turadi:
- **Soddalik va to'liqlik**: Agata Kristi asarlarida
hikoyaning soddaligi va to'liqligi, ba'zan minimalizm orqali
voqeani uzatish usuli ko'zga tashlanadi. U orqali
qahramonlarning his-tuyg'ulari va voqea rivoji oson
anglashiladi.
- **Diologlar va psixologik portretlar**: Kristining
asarlarida diologlar va psixologik portretlar muhim rol
o'ynaydi. Personajlarning ichki dunyosini aks ettiradigan
tasvirlar ingliz tilida boy ifodalar bilan berilgan bo'lishi
mumkin.
- **Qiziqarli so'z birikmalari**: Kristi asarlarida odatda
oddiy so'zlar orqali katta ma'no beriladi. Tarjimada bu so'z
birikmalarining o'ziga xosligi, o'zbek tilida qanday aks
ettirilishi masalasi muhim bo'ladi.

### 3. Agata Kristining "And Then There Were None"

Asaridan Misol

Masalan, Agata Kristining "And Then There Were None"

(Xuddi shunday, hech kim qolmadi) asarini o'zbek tiliga
tarjima qilishda bir nechta stilistik muammolar yuzaga
kelishi mumkin.

**Metaforalar va simvollar**: Ingliz tilida “The island was

like a skull” (Orol bir qoshga o'xshardi) kabi tasvirlar
o'zbek tiliga tarjima qilishda stilistik muammolarni keltirib
chiqaradi. Bu yerda, "skull" so'zi ma'nosida — qattiq,
ajablanarli va noxush taassurot qoldirishga qaratilgan
simvolizm ishlatilgan.

**Dialekt va zamoniy ifodalar**: Ingliz tilidagi shahar va

mamlakatlar orasidagi dialekt farqlari va zamoniy iboralar
ba'zan tarjimada noaniqlik yaratishi mumkin. Misol uchun,
"a cup of tea" (choyli bir piyola) iborasi ingliz tilida ingliz
madaniyatiga oid bir jihatni bildiradi. Bu iborani o'zbek
tiliga tarjima qilishda choy madaniyati mavjud bo'lgani
uchun muammo yaratmasa-da, tarjima paytida bu
madaniy omilni hisobga olish muhimdir.

### 4. Tarjimaning Til Va Madaniyatga Ta'siri

Tarjima jarayonida til va madaniyat o'rtasidagi o'zgarishlar
asar mohiyatiga sezilarli ta'sir ko'rsatadi. Ingliz tilidan
o'zbek tiliga tarjima qilishda ko'pincha tilga xos so'zlar va
frazalarning ma'nosi madaniy kontekstdan kelib chiqadi.
Masalan, Agata Kristi asarlarida ishlatilgan inglizcha
iboralar o'zbek madaniyati uchun mos bo'lmagan holda
tarjima qilinsa, asar o'z o'ziga xosligini yo'qotishi mumkin.
Shu bois, tarjimon asar madaniyatini, qahramonlar va
voqea-tahqiqatni hisobga olib tarjimani amalga oshirishi
lozim.

### 5. Xulosa

Agata Kristining asarlarini ingliz tilidan o'zbek tiliga tarjima

qilishda stilistik muammolar o'ziga xos va murakkab.
Tarjimada so'z va iboralar, dialekt va frazologizm,
psixologik tasvirlar va madaniy kodlarni to'g'ri aks ettirish
juda muhim. Tarjimonlikning asosiy maqsadi, asar
ma'nosini va ruhini saqlab qolishdir, bu esa faqatgina
tarjimonning til va madaniyatni chuqur bilishiga bog'liqdir.
Agata Kristining asarlarini tarjima qilish jarayoni, badiiy
tarjima ilmiga oid yangi yondashuvlarni yaratishga hissa
qo'shishi mumkin.