LACUNAE IN LITERARY TITLE TRANSLATION: LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL ASPECTS

Abstract

Lacunae in literary title translation represent gaps in meaning that arise due to linguistic and cultural differences between languages. These gaps, often unnoticed within a single language, become evident when comparing languages and attempting to translate literary works. Lacunae can be linguistic, where a term has no direct equivalent, or cultural, where historical, idiomatic, or stylistic elements do not transfer smoothly. This study examines various challenges translators face when adapting literary titles and explores strategies such as literal translation, adaptation, transcreation, and omission/addition. By analyzing case studies from Uzbek and English literary translations, this paper highlights how lacunae affect intercultural communication and literary accessibility. Understanding lacunae enhances the quality of translations, ensuring that the essence of a literary work is preserved while making it understandable to a wider audience. This research contributes to the ongoing discussion in translation studies by offering practical solutions for overcoming these linguistic gaps.