DIFFERENCES IN TRANSLATING HUMAN GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS FROM ENGLISH TO THE UZBEK LANGUAGES

Abstract

Geographical terms are linguistic expressions that can be challenging to translate between two languages. "Human geography, a growingly globalized discipline, relies heavily on English as its lingua franca for disseminating core concepts and theories. This necessitates the translation of specialized terminology into diverse languages, such as Uzbek, for educational and research purposes. However, translating abstract and culturally-laden human geographical terms like 'sense of place,' 'cultural landscape,' or 'gentrification' is fraught with challenges. These terms are not mere labels but carry rich semantic fields and theoretical underpinnings often rooted in Anglophone contexts, making direct lexical substitution into a linguistically and culturally distant language like Uzbek problematic. Existing bilingual resources may offer simplistic equivalents, potentially leading to conceptual misinterpretations, hindering the development of robust indigenous geographical discourse, and limiting the effective application of geographical insights in local contexts. While translation studies address general complexities, the specific nuances of rendering core human geographical terminology between languages like English and Uzbek remain underexplored, highlighting a critical gap in understanding how geographical knowledge travels and transforms across linguistic divides.