TRANSLATIONAL ASYMMETRIES OF ENGLISH COMPOUND LEGAL TERMS INTO UZBEK: CHALLENGES IN SYNONYMY, SEMANTIC DIVERGENCE, AND JURISPRUDENTIAL DISCREPANCIES

Abstract

: The cross-linguistic rendering of legal discourse demands structural invariance alongside strict conceptual alignment. This article investigates the primary linguistic and extra-linguistic challenges encountered when translating English compound legal terms into Uzbek, focusing specifically on three critical vectors: terminological synonymy, semantic shifts (divergence), and national-legal disparities. Compound legal terms are crucial instruments of language economy, compressing complex statutory conditions into dense lexical units. However, when transitioning between the Anglo-American Common Law system (analytical English) and the Romano-Germanic-influenced Civil Law system of Uzbekistan (agglutinative Uzbek), significant conceptual friction occurs. Through a qualitative analysis of statutory texts, judicial precedents, and criminal codes, this study examines how lexical overlapping, contextual semantic shifts, and institutional lacunae complicate the translation process. The paper ultimately establishes a systematic methodology, offering targeted translational strategies—such as functional modulation, descriptive paraphrasing, and contextual contextualization—to mitigate semantic distortion and ensure absolute communicative equivalence in international legal settings.