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473
STYLISTIC AND SEMANTIC PURPOSES OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS WITH
ORNITHONYMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES
Aliyeva Zimixol Ashurqulovna,
Teacher
Termiz State Pedagogical Institute
Phone: +998 99 426 02 19
Email:
Abstract:
This article explores the semantic and stylistic functions of phraseological units (PUs)
containing ornithonyms (bird names) in English and Uzbek. Through comparative analysis, the
study examines how ornithonym-based idioms reflect cultural values, worldview, and
communicative strategies in both languages. The analysis reveals that while both English and
Uzbek phraseologies utilize ornithonyms to express metaphorical meanings, stylistic nuances
and semantic associations differ significantly. The findings underscore the role of birds as
symbolic agents in human cognition and discourse, enriching stylistic expressiveness and
cultural imagery.
Key words:
to Phraseological units, birds, symbolism, ornithonymic, cultural connotation,
semantic feature
Introduction.
Phraseological units with ornithonyms—idiomatic expressions that include the
names of birds—constitute a vibrant and expressive segment of both English and Uzbek lexicons.
Birds have been central to human observation, mythology, and symbolism, making their names
particularly rich in connotation and metaphor.
The primary aim of this article is to examine the semantic roles and stylistic functions of
ornithonymic phraseological units in English and Uzbek. These units are not only tools for
linguistic economy but also vehicles of cultural symbolism and stylistic embellishment.
Key research questions include:
- What are the dominant semantic fields of ornithonymic PUs in English and Uzbek?
- How do these idioms function stylistically in discourse?
- What cultural or national characteristics influence the metaphorical use of bird names
This investigation contributes to contrastive phraseology and highlights the deep-rooted cultural
dimensions embedded in idiomatic language.
Methodology.
This research employs a comparative-descriptive method combined with
semantic and stylistic analysis. The data corpus comprises:
- 120 English PUs with ornithonyms;
- 120 Uzbek PUs with ornithonyms.
Sources include monolingual and bilingual dictionaries, proverb collections, corpora (British
National Corpus, Uzbek National Corpus), and literary texts.
Each PU was analyzed based on:
- Ornithonym used (e.g., crow, nightingale, eagle);
- Semantic field (intelligence, cowardice, beauty, etc.);
- Stylistic function (irony, exaggeration, poeticism, etc.);
- Cultural connotation (symbolic, mythological, religious).
Idioms were categorized according to their pragmatic roles: expressive, evaluative, intensifying,
and symbolic.
Volume 15 Issue 05, May 2025
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Results.
Semantic Functions
The most prominent semantic roles of ornithonymic PUs are:
- Negative human traits:
- English: “To eat like a bird”, “silly goose”
- Uzbek: “Qarg‘adek qiyshiq”, “Toydek yurgizmoq”
- Social status or behavior:
- English: “Lame duck”, “nest egg”
- Uzbek: “Loqayd qush”
- Freedom and independence:
- English: “Free as a bird”
- Uzbek: “Qushdek erkin”
- Beauty and grace:
- Uzbek: “Turnadek go‘zal”
- English: Rare in this sense
- Danger or vigilance:
- English: “Watch like a hawk”
- Uzbek: “Lochin kabi hushyor”
Stylistic Functions
Ornithonym-based idioms perform several stylistic functions:
- Expressive/Evaluative: Express opinions or attitudes (e.g., “birdbrain”, “qushdek”)
- Poetic/Imagistic: Found in literary and poetic texts, especially in Uzbek (e.g., “Qaldirg‘ochdek
sadoqatli”)
- Humorous/Ironic: “Go on a wild goose chase”, “Qarg’aday chiyillamoq”
- Metaphorical Compression: Condensation of complex ideas into short, vivid expressions
Cross-Cultural Observations
Semantic Field
English Example
Uzbek Example
Observation
Intelligence
“Birdbrain”
“Qush miyali”
Shared
metaphor,
negative
Vigilance
“Eagle eye
” “Lochin nigoh”
Similar symbolism
Foolishness
“Silly goose”
“Toy qush”
Cultural match
Loyalty
Rare
“Qaldirg‘ochdek
sadoqatli”
Stronger in Uzbek poetic
tradition
Isolation
“Bird in a cage”
“Qafasdagi qush”
Shared
emotional
metaphor
Discussion.
The analysis demonstrates that ornithonym-based PUs in English and Uzbek serve
both referential and stylistic purposes. While many idioms overlap semantically, their stylistic
deployment varies due to cultural frameworks.
In English, ornithonymic PUs are often used in everyday speech, informal writing, and political
discourse. In contrast, Uzbek idioms often appear in folklore, poetry, and proverbs, imbuing
them with emotional and symbolic depth.
The stylistic richness of Uzbek ornithonymic idioms reflects the country's oral traditions. English
Volume 15 Issue 05, May 2025
Impact factor: 2019: 4.679 2020: 5.015 2021: 5.436, 2022: 5.242, 2023:
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475
idioms, more secular and modernized, use birds for rational and pragmatic evaluations.
This contrast reveals how phraseology encodes not just language but worldview, value systems,
and communicative preferences.
Conclusion.
Phraseological units with ornithonyms are vital tools for expressing complex ideas
in a vivid, concise, and culturally embedded manner. English and Uzbek both utilize bird
metaphors to convey semantic content and stylistic richness, yet their idiomatic realizations
differ due to cultural and literary traditions.
The study confirms that:
- Ornithonymic PUs serve distinct semantic roles (traits, emotions, status);
- They enrich communication through stylistic effects (humor, expressiveness, metaphor);
- Cultural worldview shapes the imagery and usage of these idioms in each language.
Understanding these phraseological nuances is essential for translators, linguists, and cultural
mediators working between English and Uzbek.
References:
1. 1. Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. London: Routledge.
2. 2. Gläser, R. (1984). The Stylistic Potential of Phraseological Units. Phraseology and Culture,
125–143.
3. 3. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of
Chicago Press.
4. 4. Kunin, A.V. (1996). English-Russian Phraseological Dictionary. Moscow: Russian
Language Publishers.
5. 5. Nazarov, S. (2006). O‘zbek Tilining Iboralar Lug‘ati. Tashkent: O‘zbekiston Milliy
Ensiklopediyasi.
6. 6. Cowie, A. P., Mackin, R., & McCaig, I. R. (1993). Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms.
Oxford University Press.
7. 7. Abdurahmonov, R. (2003). Folklor va Ramzlar. Tashkent: Fan.
