LEXICAL-SEMANTIC STUDY OF METONYMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES
Keywords:
Keywords: Metonymy, lexical-semantic analysis, English language, Uzbek language, cognitive linguistics, lexical relations, semantic mechanisms, cultural specificity, contrastive linguistics, translation equivalence.Abstract
Abstract: Metonymy, as a figure of speech and a semantic mechanism, plays a
pivotal role in language, allowing speakers to express concepts through part-whole,
cause-effect, or contiguity relationships. This article investigates the lexical-semantic
characteristics of metonyms in English and Uzbek languages, emphasizing their
structural, semantic, and functional properties. Using descriptive, contrastive, and
analytical methods, the study examines authentic texts, dictionaries, and corpora to
identify patterns of metonymic expression and explore language-specific realizations.
The research reveals that both English and Uzbek employ metonymy extensively in
various domains, including daily communication, literature, and professional
discourse. English metonyms often rely on conventionalized idiomatic expressions and
lexicalized forms (the crown to refer to monarchy, Hollywood for the film industry),
whereas Uzbek utilizes morphologically and syntactically explicit structures, often
drawing on culturally salient imagery (to‘qimachi markazi – “center of textile
production” to denote the textile industry). The study also highlights how metonymic
relations contribute to cognitive economy, textual cohesion, and expressive richness.
Comparative analysis demonstrates that while English and Uzbek share universal
cognitive principles in establishing part-whole or associative relations, cultural and
typological differences shape their linguistic realization. The findings have practical
implications for translation, lexicography, and language teaching, emphasizing the
importance of understanding metonymy for accurate interpretation, cross-linguistic
mapping, and effective communication.
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