From "Aqyl" to Reason: Challenges of Translating Kazakh Concept in Abai Kunanbayev's Works

Abstract

This article examines the translation of the Kazakh concept aqyl (reason) in Abai Kunanbayev's prose (Book of Words) and poetry into English. As one of the author's central philosophical categories, aqyl encompasses intellectual and cultural dimensions that do not always find equivalents in English. The study aims to explore how the concept aqyl  is represented in the source texts and subsequently reconfigured in translation. Methodologically, the study combines comparative textual analysis with cognitive-linguistic and metaphor-oriented approaches. The componential analysis makes it possible to distinguish the different semantic facets of aqyl, which are then traced in their English equivalents. The research identifies a wide range of translation equivalents (mind, reason, intellect, wisdom, conscience, advice, sage) and classifies them according to strategies such as literal rendering, functional equivalence, conceptual transfer, and metaphorical or poetic reframing. The distribution of these variants and strategies is presented in charts, which highlight the predominance of literal renderings but also demonstrate the important role of the interpretative approaches in maintaining conceptual richness and cultural nuance. These findings highlight the methodological challenges of translating culturally embedded concepts that lack direct equivalents in the target language. The study contributes to broader debates in translation studies on equivalence and cultural adaptation. The research shows how translator choices influence the reception of culturally specific concepts across languages and traditions. It further illustrates how translator choices shape the semantic and cultural reception of the author’s philosophical vision and underscores the need for approaches that balance linguistic accuracy with the preservation of conceptual and cultural depth.