HANDLING CONTEXT-FREE, CONTEXT-BOUND AND EQUIVALENT-LACKING LEXICAL UNITS IN ENGLISH–UZBEK TRANSLATION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract

This study explores the translation of context-free, context-bound, and equivalent-lacking lexical units in English–Uzbek translation practice. Although lexical units possess dictionary meanings, their communicative function is determined by contextual realization and semantic interaction within discourse. The article analyzes the structural and semantic characteristics of these three lexical categories and examines the strategies required for their adequate rendering into Uzbek. Context-free units, including proper names and technical terminology, generally have stable equivalents and are translated through transcription or loan translation. In contrast, context-bound lexical units require contextual interpretation due to polysemy, connotative variation, and pragmatic modification. Equivalent-lacking words, such as neologisms and culture-specific realia, demand creative strategies including descriptive translation, semantic transformation, and functional substitution. The findings demonstrate that successful translation depends on contextual awareness, terminological precision, and analytical flexibility. The study concludes that professional competence in English–Uzbek translation requires interpretative reconstruction of meaning rather than mechanical lexical substitution. Nega