Comparative Analysis of English Translations of Izofa-Based Toponyms in The Baburnama: The Case of Garden Names

Abstract

The Izafa Based Garden Names of Baburnama in English Translations: Looking into Some Major Tranlations from the English Translations of the Bokhari Background The aim of this study is to investigate izafa based garden names in the Baburnama throughout major english translations and to see what has been gained and what has been lost in that process. While this memoir of Babur is famous for matters of its history and culture, its toponyms are some of the least understood in aspects of language and poems. This chasm is also apparent in the translation of garden names, which not only have semantic value but also cultural meaning. The research is based on three significant English translations by J. Leyden & W. Erskine, Annette Beveridge, and W. Thackston. The methodology involves a comparative analysis concentrating on structural form, semantic equivalence, and the extent to which each translation captures the same poetical essence of the original Persian Tajik izafa construction. The examination reveals that transliterated forms similar to Bagh i Banafsha or Bagh i Shimal preserve the style of the original text, whereas complete translations such as Violet Garden or North Garden promise instant comprehension but lose cultural context. Other renderings, like Beveridge’s Bagh i bulandi or Thackston’s Bagh i Dulday, change meaning entirely and stand apart from the relationship of original intent. These results show that the translators determine how readers of English interpret the cultural and aesthetic complexities of the Baburnama. The paper concludes that the more faithfulness preserving of method, maintaining the balance of linguistic authenticity and semantic clarity. Such findings allow insights into translation studies and help us better understand Babur's cultural milieu.