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A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE STRUCTURAL-SEMANTIC FEATURES OF
ENGLISH AND UZBEK WORD COMBINATIONS
Nazarov Sardor Shamurodovich
Foreign Languages Department, Faculty of Foreign Languages,
University of Economics and Pedagogy
(non-governmental educational institution), Uzbekistan
Email:
Phone number: +998916393515
Abstract:
This research offers a comparative analysis of the structural and semantic
characteristics of word combinations in English and Uzbek, focusing on their formation,
idiomatic expressions, and the impact of cultural and linguistic factors. English, an analytic
language with a rigid word order and widespread use of phrasal verbs, contrasts with Uzbek, an
agglutinative language that depends on suffixes, postpositions, and auxiliary verb constructions.
The study explores the key differences in syntax, morphology, and semantic clarity, emphasizing
the challenges involved in translation and second-language learning. While English tends to use
idiomatic phrases with less transparent meanings (e.g., "kick the bucket"), Uzbek word
combinations are generally more literal, though idiomatic expressions influenced by Persian and
Russian are present (e.g., "dil kushodasi" [heart's joy]). The research also examines the role of
cultural and historical influences on collocational patterns in both languages. By systematically
comparing these features, the paper aims to improve cross-linguistic understanding, helping
translators, linguists, and learners navigate the complexities of both languages. The findings
highlight the importance of context-sensitive learning strategies for mastering these different
structural and semantic systems.
Annotatsiya:
Ushbu tadqiqotda ingliz va o‘zbek tillaridagi so‘z birikmalarining tarkibiy va
semantik xususiyatlari qiyosiy tahlil qilinib, ularning shakllanishi, idiomatik iboralar, madaniy
va lingvistik omillarning ta’siriga e’tibor qaratiladi. Qattiq soʻz tartibiga ega boʻlgan va
frazemalarning keng qoʻllanilgan analitik tili boʻlgan ingliz tili oʻzbek tiliga qarama-qarshi
qoʻshimchalar, qoʻshimchalar va yordamchi feʼl yasashlariga bogʻliq boʻlgan aglutinativ tildir.
Tadqiqot sintaksis, morfologiya va semantik ravshanlikdagi asosiy farqlarni o'rganadi, tarjima va
ikkinchi tilni o'rganish bilan bog'liq muammolarni ta'kidlaydi. Ingliz tilida kamroq shaffof
ma’noga ega idiomatik iboralardan foydalanishga moyil bo‘lsa (masalan, “paqirni tepmoq”),
o‘zbekcha so‘z birikmalari odatda ko‘proq so‘zma-so‘z bo‘ladi, garchi fors va rus tillari ta’sirida
bo‘lgan idiomatik iboralar mavjud (masalan, “dil qushodasi” [yurak quvonchi]). Tadqiqot,
shuningdek, har ikkala tildagi qo'shma naqshlarga madaniy va tarixiy ta'sirlarning rolini
o'rganadi. Ushbu xususiyatlarni muntazam ravishda taqqoslash orqali maqola tillararo
tushunishni yaxshilashga, tarjimonlarga, tilshunoslarga va o'quvchilarga ikkala tilning
murakkabliklarida harakat qilishda yordam berishga qaratilgan. Topilmalar ushbu turli tarkibiy
va semantik tizimlarni o'zlashtirish uchun kontekstga sezgir ta'lim strategiyalarining muhimligini
ta'kidlaydi.
Аннотация:
Это исследование предлагает сравнительный анализ структурных и
семантических характеристик словосочетаний в английском и узбекском языках, уделяя
особое внимание их формированию, идиоматическим выражениям и влиянию культурных
и языковых факторов. Английский язык, аналитический язык с жестким порядком слов и
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широко распространенным использованием фразовых глаголов, контрастирует с
узбекским языком, агглютинативным языком, который зависит от суффиксов, послелогов
и вспомогательных глагольных конструкций. Исследование изучает ключевые различия в
синтаксисе, морфологии и семантической ясности, подчеркивая проблемы, связанные с
переводом и изучением второго языка. В то время как английский язык имеет тенденцию
использовать идиоматические фразы с менее прозрачными значениями (например, «kick
the bucket»), узбекские словосочетания, как правило, более буквальны, хотя присутствуют
идиоматические выражения, возникшие под влиянием персидского и русского языков
(например, «dil kushodasi» [радость сердца]). Исследование также изучает роль
культурных и исторических влияний на коллокационные модели в обоих языках.
Систематически сравнивая эти особенности, статья направлена на улучшение
межъязыкового понимания, помогая переводчикам, лингвистам и учащимся
ориентироваться в сложностях обоих языков. Результаты подчеркивают важность
контекстно-зависимых стратегий обучения для освоения этих различных структурных и
семантических систем.
Keywords:
word combinations, collocations, structural-semantic features, English-Uzbek
contrast, idiomaticity, agglutination, translation challenges.
Introduction.
The exploration of word combinations, or collocations, is essential for
understanding how languages organize meaning and convey intricate information. English and
Uzbek, belonging to the Indo-European and Turkic language families respectively, each have
unique structural and semantic approaches to forming word combinations. This comparative
study investigates the fundamental characteristics of these combinations in both languages,
focusing on the syntactic and semantic principles that influence their creation and usage.
Structural Features of Word Combinations
Word Order in English and Uzbek
English, a Germanic language, typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order in
sentences. This pattern extends to word combinations, where adjectives generally precede nouns
(e.g., “beautiful garden”) and adverbs modify verbs (e.g., “run quickly”). The word order in
English is relatively fixed, and the positioning of words largely defines their relationships.
On the other hand, Uzbek, a member of the Turkic language family, follows a Subject-Object-
Verb (SOV) structure in its sentences. Word combinations in Uzbek are more flexible, with
adjectives often placed after nouns (e.g., "bog' go'zal" for "beautiful garden"). This flexibility
allows for a broader range of stylistic choices, particularly in creative expressions like poetry.
Moreover, in Uzbek, modifiers can be rearranged within phrases to create emphasis or specific
thematic effects.
Morphological Features
English and Uzbek differ in their use of inflections and agglutinations. In English, word
combinations generally include compound nouns (e.g., “toothpaste,” “mother-in-law”) and fixed
expressions that tend to remain unchanged. Prepositions and articles in English help define
grammatical relationships, making it a more analytic language.
In contrast, Uzbek is an agglutinative language, relying on suffixes to express grammatical
relationships. Word combinations in Uzbek often involve the addition of various suffixes that
modify the root word, creating subtle nuances. For example, the word "yosh" (young) can
transform into “yoshlik” (youth) with the addition of the suffix “-lik.” This morphological
flexibility enables the creation of rich, varied word combinations in Uzbek, which convey
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detailed information about tense, case, and number.
Semantic Features of Word Combinations
Collocational Patterns and Meaning
Collocations—commonly paired words—play a crucial role in both English and Uzbek.
However, the semantic properties of these combinations differ significantly due to cultural,
historical, and linguistic factors. In English, collocations tend to reflect fixed expressions where
the meaning is fairly predictable based on the individual words. For example, “make a decision”
is a frequent English collocation, where "make" is paired with "decision," even though "make"
doesn’t directly mean “to decide.”
In Uzbek, many collocations are more flexible and can adapt to specific cultural contexts. For
instance, the phrase "qol o'rnida" (literally “in place of the hand”) is used figuratively in some
dialects to describe a job or responsibility, demonstrating the metaphorical nature of word
combinations in Uzbek.
Cultural Context and Figurative Language
Figurative language in word combinations varies greatly between English and Uzbek, each
possessing its own set of idiomatic expressions and metaphors. In English, common
metaphorical expressions like “a rough road ahead” or “a silver lining” often reflect cultural
references or historical events that have shaped the language.
Uzbek, influenced by Turkic, Persian, and Arabic traditions, tends to use more image-rich and
poetic expressions. For example, the phrase "ko'z yosh" (literally "eye tear") refers to sorrow or
sadness, showcasing how figurative language can carry deep cultural significance.
Complex Sentences and Word Combinations
English often relies on compound and complex sentence structures to convey detailed
relationships between actions or states. Word combinations in English are frequently expanded
through relative clauses or descriptive phrases (e.g., "the book on the table" or "the man who is
reading the book"), adding layers of meaning and context.
Similarly, Uzbek uses complex sentence structures, but its agglutinative nature leads to a
different method of expressing relationships. Instead of relying on conjunctions or relative
clauses, word combinations in Uzbek can be extended by adding suffixes that modify individual
components. For instance, "yurish" (to walk) can be altered with suffixes to indicate intent,
duration, or manner, enriching the meaning of the phrase.
Syntactic Flexibility and Stylistic Variations
Both English and Uzbek allow a degree of syntactic flexibility, offering the possibility for
stylistic variation. In English, word combinations can be rearranged for emphasis or rhythm,
particularly in poetry, advertisements, or casual speech. Although English has a fixed word order,
it still permits creative alterations, provided that the syntactic rules are respected.
Uzbek, with its more flexible word order, provides greater freedom in how words can be
arranged to achieve stylistic effects. The ability to move modifiers within phrases allows
speakers of Uzbek to adjust meaning or focus without altering the fundamental structure of the
sentence.
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Conclusion
The comparative analysis of the structural and semantic features of English and Uzbek word
combinations highlights significant differences in how each language constructs meaning.
English tends to favor a rigid syntactic structure, while Uzbek benefits from a flexible
framework that facilitates intricate morphological and syntactic manipulations. The use of
collocations in both languages reflects unique cultural perspectives, with each language
contributing idiomatic expressions that influence the way speakers perceive and interpret the
world.
As global communication continues to increase, recognizing the structural-semantic differences
between languages like English and Uzbek will improve cross-cultural understanding and
enhance the teaching and learning of both languages. This comparative study underscores the
diversity of linguistic expression and emphasizes the importance of context, culture, and
structure in shaping the meanings conveyed by words.
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