CULTURAL CODE AND EQUIVALENCE IN LITERARY TRANSLATION: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

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Published: 16.08.2026

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Tangsamal Tolebay
Al-Farabi Kazakh National University image/svg+xml

Abstract

Literary translation is a multidimensional process that extends beyond linguistic transformation and involves the transfer of cultural meanings, national identity, historical memory, and ideological values embedded within the source text. Among the most challenging aspects of literary translation are cultural codes, which encompass symbols, traditions, customs, beliefs, historical references, and culturally specific concepts that shape the worldview of a particular society. Since these elements are deeply rooted in the source culture, they often lack direct equivalents in the target language, creating significant challenges for translators. This paper investigates the relationship between cultural code and equivalence in literary translation by examining the theoretical foundations of translation studies and evaluating the effectiveness of different translation strategies in preserving both semantic meaning and cultural authenticity.

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Data Availability Statement

All data supporting the findings of this study are presented in the text of the scientific work.

Issue

No. 305 (2026): 19th ISPC «Scientific Horizon in the Context of Social Crises» (August 16-18, 2026; Tokyo, Japan).

Section

Philology and Linguistics
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Tangsamal Tolebay, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

PhD Student, Department of Translation Studies, Faculty of Philology

How to Cite

Tangsamal, T. (2026). CULTURAL CODE AND EQUIVALENCE IN LITERARY TRANSLATION: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION. Scientific Collection «InterConf», 305, 137–150. https://interconf.openpubarchive.com/index.php/proceeding/article/view/47

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