THE SEMANTIC AND CULTURAL-LINGUISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH

Abstrak

This article investigates the semantic and cultural-linguistic characteristics of phraseological units in Uzbek and English. Phraseological units are regarded as an essential component of a language’s lexical system, reflecting the historical experience, cultural values, and worldview of a speech community. The study aims to identify similarities and differences in the semantic structure, figurative meaning, and cultural connotations of phraseological units in both languages. A comparative and descriptive approach is employed to analyze selected phraseological units, focusing on metaphorical imagery, national mentality, and culturally specific references. The findings reveal that while many phraseological units in Uzbek and English share universal semantic patterns related to human emotions, behavior, and social relations, significant differences arise from cultural, historical, and religious backgrounds. Uzbek phraseological units often reflect collectivism, moral values, and traditional lifestyles, whereas English phraseological units tend to emphasize individualism and pragmatic attitudes. The research highlights the importance of cultural competence in understanding and translating phraseological units and contributes to contrastive linguistics and intercultural communication studies