Translating Political Intent in Uzbek-English Presidential Discourse

Abstract

This article examines how political intent is reformulated and adapted for target audiences in the English translations of speeches delivered by Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Rather than evaluating translation solely through formal correspondence, the study focuses on how political meaning is preserved, modified, or reinterpreted during translation. The analysis draws on selected presidential speeches and their official English translations, focusing on expressions conveying authority, solidarity, commitment, respect, and diplomatic positioning. A qualitative comparative approach identifies relationships between political intent, translation decisions, and communicative effects. Cultural and institutional factors influencing translation choices are also considered. The findings indicate that political intent is frequently maintained through functional reformulation, while culturally marked and institutionally sensitive expressions may be adjusted to suit context. The study argues that effective political translation depends less on identical linguistic forms than on preserving the communicative force and political orientation of the source discourse for its intended audience and broader international readership.