Pragmatic Adaptation and Semantic Shifting in Translation

Abstract

This article examines pragmatic adaptation and semantic shifts in the translation of Lee Kuan Yew’s From Third World to First: The Singapore Story (1965–2000) into Uzbek (Uchinchi dunyodan birinchi dunyoga: Singapur tarixi (1965–2000), Akademnashr, 2023). The study identifies the characteristics of translating political and historical texts, focusing on the strategies employed to preserve the author’s style and ideas. Through comparative, pragmatic, and semantic analysis, the types of semantic shifts (expansion, reduction, modulation) and their impact on the Uzbek audience’s perception are determined. Examples from the book’s chapters illustrate how the translator adapted Lee Kuan Yew’s political rhetoric and ideological concepts. While the translation successfully conveys the intended meaning, some instances of nuance loss highlight the challenges of translating ideologically charged texts. The findings underscore the significance of a pragmatic approach in translation.