THE "UNTRANSLATABLE" JOKE: A STUDY ON THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATING UZBEK CULTURE-SPECIFIC CONCEPTS INTO ENGLISH AND THE LOSS OF COMEDIC TIMING

Zulfiyaxon Mirabdullayeva

Authors

Zulfiyaxon Mirabdullayeva Tashkent State University of Oriental Studies, Western languages department, English senior teacher

Keywords:

untranslatability, Uzbek humor, askiya, comedic timing, culture-specific concepts, translation theory

Abstract

The present research investigates the main difficulties such as the problem of transferring an Uzbek culture-specific humor to another language, focusing on the issue of askiya and its oppositions to proper English translation. The study reveals that askiya—encompassing spontaneous wit, verbal competition, and cultural improvisation—loses essential meaning when translated into English due to absent cultural equivalents and disrupted comedic timing.

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