Equivalence, Adaptation, And Explicitation In Translating Euphemisms: A Comparative Study Of English And Uzbek Media Discourse

Abstract

This study explores three key strategies - equivalence, adaptation, and explicitation - used in translating euphemisms from English to Uzbek within media texts. Drawing on examples from political, economic, and social news discourse, the research highlights how each strategy contributes to preserving the semantic, pragmatic, and cultural functions of euphemistic language. While equivalence provides lexical correspondence, it may fail to convey implicit socio-political nuances. Adaptation enables cultural alignment by reconstructing euphemisms in contextually appropriate forms. Explicitation ensures communicative clarity by revealing implied meanings otherwise obscured by linguistic or cultural gaps. The findings suggest that successful euphemism translation requires a careful balance of semantic fidelity and cultural sensitivity. The study concludes that functional and pragmatic approaches, rather than literal translation, are key to maintaining the communicative integrity and emotional resonance of euphemisms in cross-cultural media discourse.