Translating Children’s Literature: English-Kazakh Analysis of Peter Pan

Abstract

This article examines the peculiarities of translating children’s literature from English into Kazakh using J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan as the main source of analysis. The study focuses on the linguistic, cultural, grammatical, and stylistic features that arise in the translation of texts intended for young readers. Special attention is paid to the preservation of simplicity, emotional expressiveness, imagination, and character speech, which are essential elements of children’s literature. The analysis shows that successful translation of children’s texts requires not only accurate transfer of meaning but also adaptation to the cultural and linguistic norms of the target audience. Examples from the English original and its Kazakh translation demonstrate the use of such strategies as simplification, adaptation, and grammatical restructuring. The study concludes that effective translation of children’s literature demands creativity, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the psychological and linguistic needs of child readers.