A COMPARATIVE COGNITIVE AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK
Keywords:
idioms, comparative linguistics, cognitive linguistics, English, Uzbek, metaphor, translation, cultureAbstract
Idiomatic expressions constitute a complex and culturally embedded component of language, combining fixed linguistic form with figurative meaning. This study examines idioms in English and Uzbek from a comparative perspective, focusing on their semantic structure, cognitive motivation, and cultural grounding. Using qualitative methods, the research analyzes selected idioms across domains such as emotion, cognition, and social interaction. The findings indicate that both languages rely on shared conceptual metaphors, including EMOTIONS ARE MOVEMENT and UNDERSTANDING IS SEEING (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980; Kövecses, 2010). However, important differences arise due to typological distinctions and cultural contexts, which shape idiom structure and imagery (Wierzbicka, 1997). The study also explores translation challenges, demonstrating that idiomatic meaning is often context-dependent and resistant to direct equivalence (Baker, 2018). The results contribute to phraseology, cognitive linguistics, and translation studies, while offering practical implications for language teaching and intercultural communication.
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