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volume 4, issue 3, 2025
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FEATURES OF ENGLISH PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS AND ISSUES OF THEIR
TRANSLATION INTO UZBEK
Qurbonova Nafisa Sayitmurot kizi
First year master’s degree student of Oriental
University Samarkand Branch
Abstract:
This paper investigates the distinctive features of English phraseological units and
analyzes the challenges involved in translating them into Uzbek. Phraseological units, which
include idioms, collocations, and fixed expressions, reflect the worldview, humor, and cultural
practices of native speakers. Their translation into another language is rarely straightforward due
to differences in linguistic structure, metaphorical systems, and cultural context. This study
categorizes phraseological units, discusses their structural and semantic traits, and evaluates
translation strategies through real-life examples. The analysis emphasizes the importance of
linguistic competence and cultural literacy for successful idiomatic translation.
Key words:
phraseological units, idioms, English-Uzbek translation, cultural equivalence,
semantic transparency, translation strategies, figurative language, comparative linguistics.
Introduction
Language is not only a tool for communication but also a repository of culture, history, and
collective experience. Phraseological units (PUs) in English commonly known as idioms are
deeply embedded in cultural norms and values, often presenting significant difficulties when
translated into other languages like Uzbek. Idioms are more than the sum of their parts; their
meanings are often figurative and not directly inferable from the meanings of individual words.
The Uzbek language, like English, has a rich stock of phraseological units. However, the
differences in cultural references, metaphoric thinking, and grammatical patterns lead to major
translation challenges. This paper aims to explore the features of English idioms, identify the
main difficulties in translating them into Uzbek, and offer practical strategies and solutions for
translators.
Methods
This study adopts a
comparative-descriptive
and
qualitative analytical approach
to
investigate the features of English phraseological units and their translation into Uzbek. The
research methodology consists of several stages: data collection, classification, comparative
analysis, and evaluation of translation strategies. Each stage is explained below.
Data Collection
To ensure a representative sample of idiomatic expressions, a corpus of 100 commonly used
English phraseological units was compiled from diverse authentic sources, including:
Contemporary fiction and non-fiction books
(e.g., novels, essays)
Subtitled movies and TV series
(for spoken idioms in context)
Newspaper and magazine articles
(e.g.,
The Guardian
,
BBC News
)
Digital corpora
such as the
Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA)
These sources were selected to reflect a variety of discourse types, from formal to informal, and
to capture phraseological usage across different contexts (narrative, conversational, journalistic).
Classification of Idioms
After collecting the idioms, they were categorized based on two main criteria:
Semantic Transparency
:
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Transparent idioms
: Meanings are partly deducible (
e.g., lose one’s temper
)
Semi-transparent idioms
: Meaning somewhat obscure (
e.g., break the ice
)
Opaque idioms
: Figurative meaning not related to component words (
e.g., kick the bucket
)
Structural Type
:
Verb-based phrases
(
e.g., pull someone’s leg
)
Noun phrases
(
e.g., a red herring
)
Full clauses/proverbs
(
e.g., the early bird catches the worm
)
This classification was essential for understanding which idioms are more easily translatable and
which present greater challenges.
Selection of Uzbek Equivalents
To identify corresponding Uzbek translations, the following resources and techniques were used:
Uzbek-English and English-Uzbek bilingual dictionaries
, especially those including idiomatic
expressions
Published literary translations
from English into Uzbek, where idioms were used in actual
translation practice
Native Uzbek speaker input
(including linguistic experts and language teachers) to determine
natural equivalents
Online forums and language communities
to observe modern usage
Each English idiom was paired with one or more Uzbek equivalents, where available, and
marked as:
Fully equivalent
Partially equivalent
Descriptive translation
No equivalent (requiring creative adaptation)
Comparative Analysis
Each idiom pair was analyzed with attention to:
Lexical correspondence
: Do the individual words match or differ?
Idiomatic value
: Is the figurative meaning retained?
Cultural resonance
: Is the idiom’s imagery or reference culturally understandable in Uzbek?
For example:
Let the cat out of the bag
(meaning: to reveal a secret) has a direct equivalent in Uzbek:
sirni
fosh qilmoq
, which retains both meaning and usage context.
In contrast:
Hit the hay
(meaning: to go to bed) has no culturally grounded equivalent and often needs to be
translated descriptively:
uxlashga yotmoq
.
Evaluation of Translation Strategies
To assess translation effectiveness, the idioms and their translations were evaluated based on
how well they met the following criteria:
Accuracy
: Is the intended meaning conveyed?
Naturalness
: Does the translation sound fluent and idiomatic in Uzbek?
Cultural appropriateness
: Does it align with Uzbek norms and conceptual frameworks?
The following translation strategies were identified and coded during analysis:
Direct or full equivalence
Semantic or functional equivalence
Descriptive paraphrasing
Cultural substitution
Literal translation
(used rarely, and often marked as ineffective)
Each strategy was recorded in a spreadsheet for comparison, and frequency was calculated to
determine which approaches were most effective across idiom types.
Results
Types and Characteristics of English Phraseological Units
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Phraseological units in English exhibit various degrees of semantic opacity and structural fixity.
They are typically categorized into:
Pure
idioms
(non-literal,
opaque
meaning):
e.g., Kick the bucket
→ ‘to die’
Semi-idioms
(partially
literal,
partially
figurative):
e.g., Lose one’s head
→ ‘to panic’
Phraseological
collocations
(fixed,
but
more
transparent):
e.g., Make a decision
,
Strong tea
English idioms often utilize metaphor and cultural imagery:
Spill the beans
(to reveal a secret)
Bite the bullet
(to endure pain bravely)
Under the weather
(feeling sick)
These units serve multiple functions: they enrich language, simplify expression, enhance stylistic
tone, and sometimes inject humor or sarcasm.
Translation Equivalence and Examples
English Idiom
Uzbek Equivalent
Type
A blessing in disguise
Yaxshilikka xizmat qilgan kulfat
Partial equivalence
To let the cat out of the
bag
Sirni fosh qilmoq
Full equivalence
Hit the nail on the head
Muammo tagiga yetmoq
Functional
equivalence
Once in a blue moon
Juda kamdan-kam
Descriptive translation
Burn the midnight oil
Kechasi bilan ishlamoq/o‘qimoq
Adaptive translation
The elephant in the room
Hamma
e’tibor
bermayotgan
katta
muammo
No direct equivalent
Some idioms required
cultural contextualization
to retain meaning. For example:
Break the ice
– If translated literally (
muzni sindirish
), it may be misunderstood. The correct
contextual meaning in Uzbek would be:
suhbatni boshlash uchun muhitni yumshatmoq
.
Challenges in Translation
Semantic opacity
: The meaning cannot be deduced from words.
Kick the bucket
literally translated (
chelakni tepmoq
) makes no sense in Uzbek.
Cultural untranslatability
: Idioms tied to English customs (sports, geography, politics) often
lack Uzbek analogs.
Throw in the towel
(from boxing) →
Taslim bo‘lmoq
, but imagery is lost.
Structural mismatch
: English idioms may not align grammatically with Uzbek syntax.
The ball is in your court
→ requires a complete rephrasing:
Endi navbat sizda
.
Discussion
Idioms are culturally loaded linguistic phenomena, making their translation a multidimensional
challenge. Literal translations frequently result in nonsense or stylistically inappropriate
expressions. Hence, a
functional equivalence approach
where the goal is to reproduce the same
effect on the target reader is often more effective than formal equivalence.
Professional translators and language learners need to be aware that:
Not all idioms need to be translated idiomatically.
Sometimes, stylistic or pragmatic force must take precedence over form.
Awareness of both source and target cultures is essential to avoid misinterpretations.
Translators’ strategies
often include:
Using existing equivalents
– Best choice where available.
Paraphrasing
– Explaining the idiom’s meaning in plain language.
Substitution with a culturally appropriate Uzbek idiom
– Keeping the idiomatic flavor.
Omission
– Rarely, idioms may be removed if not essential to the message.
Furthermore, modern media and digital content introduce new idioms continuously, which
means dictionaries must be updated regularly to reflect living usage.
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Conclusion
English phraseological units are rich in cultural content and figurative expression, offering both
beauty and complexity. Their translation into Uzbek requires a blend of linguistic knowledge,
cultural insight, and creative skill. While some idioms have direct equivalents, many demand
interpretation, rephrasing, or creative adaptation. The study suggests more emphasis should be
placed on idiomatic translation in academic curricula and translator training programs. Also,
collaborative efforts should be made to develop more comprehensive bilingual idiom dictionaries
and online resources that address real-world usage and provide contextual examples.
References:
1. Baker, M. (1992). In Other Words: A Coursebook on Translation. Routledge.
2. Cowie, A. P. (1998). Phraseology: Theory, Analysis, and Applications. Clarendon Press.
3. Larson, M. L. (1984). Meaning-based Translation: A Guide to Cross-language Equivalence.
4. Komissarov, V. N. (1991). Theory of Translation. Moscow: Vysshaya Shkola.
5. Uzbek-English Phraseological Dictionary. Tashkent, 2020.
