A Comparative Analysis of Semantic and Structural Differences Between Original and Translated Texts : The Case of A. Kunanbaev’s Poetic Legacy

Gulzhazira Gabdkarimova; Zhangara Dadebaev; Nurgali  Syzdykbayev

doi:10.18172/cif.6850

Authors

Gulzhazira Gabdkarimova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9160-4024
Zhangara Dadebaev Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Nurgali Syzdykbayev Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/cif.6850

Keywords:

fiction, non-equivalent vocabulary, cultural realities, lexical units, mentality

Abstract

The relevance of this study stems from the need to examine semantic and structural differences in translated texts to ensure their effective adaptation for international audiences. This process must take into account the cultural characteristics of the target readership to prevent misunderstandings and cultural loss. The primary aim of this study is to analyse the structural and semantic features of poetic texts by A. Kunanbaev as translated into Russian and English. By comparing semantic and structural changes across translations, the study identifies key trends in literary translation. These changes are traced through lexical translation techniques such as concretisation, generalisation, semantic development, holistic transformation, contextual substitution, omission, and intonational substitution. The analysis reveals that translations into English tend to favour generalisation and structural transformation, while Russian translations more often employ concretisation, contextual substitution, and retention of poetic form. This distinction reflects broader linguistic and cultural proximities between Kazakh and Russian. The study also considers how cultural realia are treated across target languages, highlighting differences in domestication and foreignization strategies. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of how semantic and structural shifts mediate the transmission of cultural and poetic meaning in translation.

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References

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