TRANSLATION STRATEGY: A COMPARATIVE REVIEW WITH REFERENCE TO KAZAKH-ENGLISH LITERARY TRANSLATION

Abstract

The concept of translation strategy is widely used in translation studies, yet its theoretical definition and scope remain inconsistent. Scholars such as E. Nida, P. Newmark, H. Krings, and C. Séguinot have proposed influential classifications, but their approaches vary, leading to conceptual ambiguity. This article seeks to clarify the use of the term translation strategy by examining its treatment in major theoretical works and recent scholarship, and to evaluate its significance for literary translation, particularly in the Kazakh-English context. The study adopts a qualitative, literature-based approach, analyzing key theoretical contributions alongside recent research, including I. Milevich’s findings that “translation strategy” often appears in abstracts and keywords but is rarely defined in the main text. The review indicates that translation strategies are interpreted variously as procedures, methods, or cognitive processes. The analysis highlights the persistent debate around domestication and foreignization, strategies originally formulated by F. Schleiermacher and later developed by L. Venuti, which illustrate the translator’s choice between cultural adaptation and preservation of foreign elements. The article emphasises the need for a systematic examination of translation strategies that integrates procedural, cognitive, and communicative dimensions. It argues that a balanced approach—combining accessibility for readers with the preservation of cultural and linguistic specificity—is essential for effective literary translation.