PRAGMATIC POSSIBILITIES OF ZOONYMIC UNITS IN FORMATION OF PROVERBS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK
Keywords:
Zoonymic units, proverbs, paremiology, pragmatics, metaphor, cultural linguistics, comparative linguistics, English language, Uzbek language.Abstract
This article examines the pragmatic functions and semantic features of zoonymic units in the formation of proverbs in English and Uzbek. Proverbs represent an important component of linguistic and cultural heritage, reflecting the worldview, social experience, and ethical values of a nation. Animal names (zoonyms) frequently occur in proverbs and serve as expressive linguistic tools that convey metaphorical meanings, evaluative attitudes, and cultural stereotypes. The purpose of this research is to analyze the pragmatic potential of zoonymic lexemes in English and Uzbek proverbs and to identify similarities and differences in their semantic and stylistic functions. The study employs comparative, structural-semantic, and contextual analysis to investigate the role of zoonyms in proverbial constructions. The results show that zoonymic units function as powerful metaphorical devices that help convey moral evaluation, social behavior patterns, and pragmatic meanings in communication. While many zoonymic metaphors share universal semantic features, certain proverbs reflect culturally specific associations with animals in each linguistic tradition. The research contributes to paremiological and linguistic studies by demonstrating how zoonymic imagery enhances the pragmatic effectiveness of proverbial expressions.
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