Translating Ethnocultural Markers in Oralkhan Bokeev's Prose: Interplay of Translation Strategies, Cultural Context, and Literary Significance

Authors

  • Nurgali Kadisha

    Department of Russian Philology, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana 10000, Kazakhstan
  • Ternavskaya Madina

    Faculty of Pedagogical Institute, Astana International University, Astana 10000, Kazakhstan
  • Rakhimbayeva Gaukhar

    Faculty of Pedagogical Institute, Astana International University, Astana, 10000, Republic of Kazakhstan
  • Nurgali Rabiga

    Department of Theory and Practice of Foreign Languages, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana 10000, Kazakhstan
  • Aubakirova Karlygash

    Department of Kazakh Philology and Journalism, Shakarim University of Semey, Semey 071412, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.9717
Received: 27 April 2025 | Revised: 19 June 2025 | Accepted: 4 August 2025 | Published Online: 23 September 2025

Abstract

This paper explores the challenges and strategies involved in translating ethnocultural markers in the prose of Oralkhan Bokeev, a prominent Kazakh writer. Positioned at the intersection of translation theory, cultural studies, and literary analysis, the study investigates how translators balance the preservation of culturally specific elements with the need for clarity and coherence in the target language. Drawing on theoretical frameworks such as equivalence, domestication versus foreignization, as well as functionalist and postcolonial approaches, the analysis reveals the complexities inherent in rendering culture-bound terms, images, and concepts. Through a qualitative-quantitative examination of Bokeev's translated works, the paper identifies key ethnocultural terms and assesses their translations across various versions. It classifies the strategies employed – ranging from direct transfer to adaptation – and evaluates their effectiveness in terms of cultural fidelity and reader accessibility. The findings demonstrate that the translation of ethnocultural markers is not a mere linguistic process but a nuanced act of cultural mediation, which plays a crucial role in shaping the literary integrity and reception of the work in the target context. Ultimately, the study argues for a balanced translation approach that maintains the identity of the source culture while effectively engaging the target audience. This research contributes to broader discussions on translating culturally rich literature and underscores the translator's role as both linguistic and cultural negotiator.

Keywords:

Translation Studies; Ethnocultural Markers; Culture-Specific Items; Kazakh Literature; Oralkhan Bokeev; Literary Translation; Domestication; Foreignization; Cultural Equivalence

References

[1] Aixelá, J.F., 1996. Culture-specific Items in Translation. In: Alvarez, R., Africa Vidal, M.C. (Eds.). Translation, Power, Subversion. Multilingual Matters: Clevedon, New Zealand. pp. 52–78.

[2] Catford, J.C., 1965. A Linguistic Theory of Translation. Oxford University Press: London, UK.

[3] Bassnett, S., & Lefevere, A., 1990. Translation, History, Culture. Pinter: London, UK.

[4] Abdeeva, Y., 2012. “Kuda ty idesh, chelovek?”: Life and prose of Oralkhan Bokeev (“Where are you going, Man?”). Bibliophile. (5), 10–15.

[5] Lotman, Y., 2005. Culture and Explosion. Mouton de Gruyter: Berlin, Germany. 264p.

[6] Pym, A., 2010. Exploring Translation Theories.Routledge: London, UK. 256p.

[7] Nida, E.A., Taber, C.R., 1969. The Theory and Practice of Translation. Brill: Leiden, The Netherlands.

[8] Venuti, L., 1995. The Translator’s Invisibility: A History of Translation. Routledge: London, UK.

[9] Spivak, G.C., 1992. The Politics of Translation. In: Venuti, L. (Ed.). The Translation Studies Reader, 2000 ed. London: Routledge: London, UK. pp. 369–388.

[10] Newmark, P., 1988. A Textbook of Translation. Prentice Hall: New York. NY, USA.

[11] Nurgali, K.R., Ternavskaya, M.M., 2020. Ethnocultural markers as myth-images in O. Bokeev’s prose. Vestnik Kokshetau State University (Philology Series). 4(2), 194–199.

[12] Cronin, M., 2006. Translation and Identity. Routledge: London, UK. 192p.

[13] Hermans, T., 2007. The Conference of the Tongues. St. Jerome Publishing: Manchester, UK. 255p.

[14] Eco, U., 2003. Mouse or Rat? Translation as Negotiation. Weidenfeld & Nicolson: London, UK. 178p.

[15] Steiner, G., 1998. After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Oxford University Press: Oxford, UK. 538p.

[16] Vinay, J.-P., Darbelnet, J., 1995. Comparative Stylistics of French and English: A Methodology for Translation. John Benjamins: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

[17] Toury, G., 1995. Descriptive Translation Studies – and Beyond. John Benjamins: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

[18] Berman, A., 2000. Translation and the Trials of the Foreign. The Translation Studies Reader. Routledge: London, UK. pp. 284–297.

[19] Nord, C., 1997. Translating as a Purposeful Activity: Functionalist Approaches Explained. St. Jerome: Manchester, UK.

[20] House, J., 2018. Translation Quality Assessment: Past and Present. Routledge: New York. NY, USA.

[21] Said, E.W., 1978. Orientalism. Vintage Books: New York. NY, USA. 368p.

[22] Cassin, B., 2014. Dictionary of Untranslatables: A Philosophical Lexicon. Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ, USA. 1344p.

[23] Baker, M., 2011. In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation (2nd ed.). Routledge: London, UK.

[24] Bokeev, O., 2018. The Man-Deer and Other Stories. Transl. by Hollingsworth, S. Francis Boutle Publishers: London, UK. 224p.

[25] Appiah, K.A., 1993. Thick Translation. In: Venuti, L. (Ed.). The Translation Studies Reader, 2000 ed. Routledge: London, UK. pp. 417–429.

[26] Larson, M.L., 1998. Meaning-Based Translation: A Guide to Cross-Language Equivalence, 2nd ed. University Press of America: Lanham, MD, USA.

[27] Even-Zohar, I., 1990. Polysystem Studies. Poetics Today. 11(1), 1–274.

[28] Bassnett, S., 2014. Translation Studies, 4th ed. Routledge: New York, NY, USA. 208p.

[29] Landers, C.E., 2001. Literary Translation: A Practical Guide. Multilingual Matters: Clevedon, UK.

[30] Steiner, G., 1982. After Babel: Aspects of Language and Translation. Translated from English by Belova, A.M. Progress Publishers: Moscow, Russia. 432p.

[31] Schiavi, G., 1990. Translation and Translatability in the Perspective of Literary and Cultural Studies. Poetics Today. 11(1), 55–67.

[32] Chesterman, A., 1997. Memes of Translation: The Spread of Ideas in Translation Theory. John Benjamins: Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Philadelphia, PA, USA. 222p.

[33] Alpysbayeva, S., Ashymkhanova, G., 2022. Translating Kazakh Culture-Bound Terms: Challenges and Implications. Central Asian Journal of Literary Studies. 4(2), 45–59.

[34] An, J., & Tan, W., 2024. Cultural Authenticity and Domestication in the English Translation of Chinese Classics. Translation and Intercultural Communication Review. 9(1), 22–38.

Downloads

How to Cite

Kadisha, N., Madina, T., Gaukhar, R., Rabiga, N., & Karlygash, A. (2025). Translating Ethnocultural Markers in Oralkhan Bokeev’s Prose: Interplay of Translation Strategies, Cultural Context, and Literary Significance. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(10), 99–112. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.9717

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 10 (October 2025): In progress

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Nurgali Kadisha, Ternavskaya Madina, Rakhimbayeva Gaukhar, Nurgali Rabiga, Aubakirova Karlygash

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.