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Abstract

While discourse was gaining prominence on the language side, there was a transformation in feminist theory and gender studies regarding conceptions of gender, and instead of seeing gender as merely an identity that one ‘‘has,’’ analysts started to understand it in terms of what people ‘‘do’’. From this perspective, gender not only exists but is also continuously created, recreated, and transformed through individuals’ enactment of gendered behaviors. This occurs as they assert their own claimed gender identities, affirm or contest the identities of others, and support or contest systems of gender relations and privilege in various ways (Eckert & McConnell-Ginet, 2013). In relation to this, gender, particularly women’s image, is reconstructed when translating from one language to another, and it may cause ideological changes (gender roles, stereotypes, equality are presented differently in a target language), ambiguity, and alters meaning in literature texts (Lardelli, 2023). The aim of this study is to explore how manipulation and neutralisation function as translation strategies influencing the representation of women in German–Kazakh official translations. Although existing studies focus on translating between English paired languages, there is a lack of research on German–Kazakh translation (Peña-Aguilar, 2024) and how gender representation is affected in translations. The study adopts a comparative mixed-methods research design, combining corpus-based quantitative analysis to identify patterns of gender-related translation shifts and Critical Discourse Analysis to interpret their discursive and ideological implications (Saldanha and O’Brien, 2013). Preliminary observations suggest that gender-marked elements in German may undergo manipulation or neutralisation in Kazakh translation, potentially altering women’s visibility and agency.

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Abstract

This paper examines whether artificial intelligence can replace human literary translators by comparing AI-generated translations with James Riordan's canonical English translation of Chingiz Aitmatov's novella "Jamila" (1957). The study focuses on the translation of Kyrgyz realia -culturally bound words that carry deep national connotations and pose significant challenges for cross-cultural transmission.

The research analyzes ten key realia from the text, including chiy (steppe grass used for traditional mats), tandyr (clay oven for baking bread), tulpar (legendary winged horse from the Epic of Manas), and tökmö akyn (poet-improvisator who composes spontaneously). Using V.N. Komissarov's classification of lexical transformations (transcription, transliteration, calquing, modulation, and explication), the study compares Riordan's translation strategies with outputs from contemporary AI models. Primary sources include Aitmatov's original Kyrgyz text, the Russian translation by A. Dmitrieva, and Riordan's English version, alongside AI-generated translations of selected passages.

The analysis reveals that while AI demonstrates impressive competence in conveying denotative meanings and producing fluent target texts, it consistently fails to capture the connotative and cultural layers embedded in Kyrgyz realia. For instance, AI translates tоkmo akyn simply as "poet," losing the crucial aspect of improvisation that Aitmatov deliberately parallels with the spontaneous nature of love in the story. Riordan, despite some inevitable losses, demonstrates deeper cultural understanding by contextualizing these terms within the narrative, occasionally adding explanatory phrases like "the legendary steed" for tulpar.

I argue that literary translation requires not only linguistic competence but also deep cultural immersion and interpretive skills that current AI models lack. The case of "Jamila" a novella that bridges Kyrgyz culture with global readership -provides compelling evidence that while AI can serve as a valuable tool for translators, it cannot replace the human element in conveying the "soul" of a literary work.

This research contributes to two growing scholarly conversations: the ongoing debate about AI's role in translation studies and the broader field of Central Asian literary translation. It challenges the assumption that AI can fully automate creative translation tasks and underscores the enduring value of human cultural expertise in cross-cultural literary transmission.

Keywords: literary translation, artificial intelligence, Chingiz Aitmatov, Kyrgyz realia, Jamila, Central Asian literature

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Abstract

This paper examines the reconstruction of social memory in post-Soviet Uzbekistan through a literary analysis of Tog'ay Murod’s novel Bu Dunyoda O'lib Bo'lmaydi. The transition period marked by perestroika and glasnost brought profound transformations to Uzbek society, particularly in relation to religion, identity, and collective consciousness. This study explores how these shifts are reflected and reinterpreted in literary discourse.

Drawing on theories of cultural and social memory, the paper analyzes how the novel represents changing attitudes toward religion during the late Soviet period and in the aftermath of independence. It focuses on the tension between ideological structures imposed by the Soviet regime and individual conscience, as depicted through the characters and narrative structure. The analysis also considers how the re-emergence of religious discourse functions as a key element in the reconstruction of social memory.

Special attention is given to the language of the text and its role in representing societal transformation. The linguistic choices and narrative strategies employed by Tog'ay Murod are examined as mechanisms through which shifts in values, beliefs, and identities are articulated. The novel’s fictional structure is analyzed in relation to historical realities in order to reveal how literature mediates between lived experience and collective memory.

The paper argues that Bu Dunyoda O'lib Bo'lmaydi does not merely depict social change but actively participates in the reconfiguration of memory by foregrounding the moral and ideological dilemmas experienced by individuals. By situating literary analysis within broader socio-political transformations, this study contributes to discussions on memory, religion, and identity in Central Eurasia.