Comparative Analysis of Anthroponyms and Toponyms in the English Translations of "Bygone Days"

This study examines the translation of proper names (anthroponyms) and place names (toponyms) in Abdulla Qodiriy’s classic Uzbek novel “O‘tkan kunlar” (Bygone Days) by comparing two recent English versions: Mark E. Reese’s “Bygone Days” and Ilkhom. Tukhtasinov’s “The Days Gone By”. Using a corpus-based comparative approach, we analyze how culture-specific names (realia) are rendered in each translation. Key characters (e.g. Otabek, Kumush) and locations (Tashkent for Toshkand, Margilan, Kokand Khanate, etc.) are predominantly preserved in English, reflecting a foreignization strategy. For instance, Reese explicitly translates the Uzbek kinship term kuyov o‘g‘ul as “son-in-law” when referring to Otabek in Margilan, whereas Tukhtasinov paraphrases it by stating “we have no children but Otabek”. Both translators retain original anthroponyms: Otabek and others are left untranslated, in line with observations that “proper names are often found unaltered in target texts”. Toponyms like Marg‘ilon are rendered as “Margilan” in English, and Toshkand appears as “Tashkent”. Our analysis, supported by translation theory on cultural “realia”, shows that translators generally keep national names intact to preserve cultural flavor. Minor differences arise in phrasing and explicitation of culturally loaded expressions. This work contributes to translation studies by illuminating how national and local names in Uzbek literature are handled in English renditions.