Transformation of Literary Translations of the Literary Classics by Abai Kunanbayev
Daurenbekova L.N. Imanberdiyeva S.K. Baitanassova K.M. Akniyet O. Alimbayev A.E.
2024International Association of Translation and Intercultural Studies
New Voices in Translation Studies
2024#29Issue 266 - 87 pp.
Kazakh poet Abai Kunanbayuly has a dualistic heritage as the father of modern Kazakh literature, and as an educator who translated Russian literary classics into Kazakh language and performed as a vital bridge between the two cultures. The Abai’s reputation was built primarily due to the writer, critic and scientist of the 20th century Mukhtar Auezov, whose biographical works about the poet created the standard narrative about his life and work. The objective of the article is to examine the life, work, and enduring influence of Abai Kunanbayuly, with a focus on his efforts to connect Kazakh and Russian cultures through his literary contributions and translations. Additionally, it aims to analyse the changing understandings of his significance in Kazakh literature and cultural history. It was established that Abai’s efforts led to the discovery of a real Kazakh literary voice, as evidenced by his successful adaptation of Pushkin’s “Evgeniy Onegin” into the traditional form of Kazakh song. The “conquest” of Central Asia by Russian literature was, in fact, a multidimensional dialogue, where writers founded distinctive national literary traditions by appropriating of its literature, and, by reading, translating, displacing, domestication and “disorienting” the figure of Pushkin in particular. It has been established that Abai does not retain all the names of the main characters but uses Kazakh analogies. The Abai’s translation of Krylov’s fables is associated primarily with elements of creativity such as landscapes, everyday life pictures and scenes.
adaptations , fiction , genre scenes , Kazakh literature , Krylov’s fables , translations by Abai Kunanbayuly
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Department of Kazakh and Russian Philology, The Eurasian Humanities Institute, Kazakhstan
Department of Kazakh and Russian Language, S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University, Kazakhstan
Department of Kazakh Literature, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan
Department of Kazakh Literature, The Eurasian Humanities Institute, Kazakhstan
Department of Kazakh and Russian Philology
Department of Kazakh and Russian Language
Department of Kazakh Literature
Department of Kazakh Literature
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