https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi
volume 4, issue 3, 2025
865
PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS AND THEIR COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS IN THE
COGNITIVE ASPECT
Topvoldieva Barnokhon Ravshanboy kizi,
Student.
Tashkent Oriental University
Abstract:
The article explores that phraseological units play a crucial role in the cognitive aspect
of a comparative analysis in both Uzbek and English languages. During the analysis of
phraseological units at the Cognitive aspect, special attention is paid not only to the combination
of meaning, as it is formed on the basis of their methods, as well as what cognitive structures are
formed in their linguistics and cultural studies.
Key Words:
phraseological units, cognitive aspect, conceptualization, culture, comparative
analysis.
Introduction
Phraseological units, often referred to as idioms, proverbs, and set expressions, play a crucial
role in language as they reflect cultural, historical, and cognitive aspects of communication.
Their analysis from a cognitive perspective allows researchers to uncover how different
languages conceptualize reality and structure thought. Phraseological units are considered by the
product of long-term development, reflecting the experience of society, so they are part of
communicative approach, and different socially significant data. Phraseological units ( idioms,
proverbs, and other stable phrases) are usually reflecting the worldview, customs, values of
certain people, which are typical of language and culture. During the analysis of phraseological
units in the cognitive form, these units should be focused not only with their content structures,
but also what kind of cognitive structures are formed on the basis of which cognitive structures.
They are used simply in a portable way, as well as their meaning can be clarified during a
specific speech process.
The following basic edges are studied in the paperwork analysis:
Conceptualization -
What concepts are phraseological units based on? For example, in Uzbek
and English, like happiness, joy, luck, or frustration, and depression is expressed in these phrases,
what are these common. For example, the Uzbek language phrase "frustrated" is offended by a
person, which can be expressed in other languages differently. In English, the combination of
"ko`ngli o`ksidi, ko`ngli sindi" can be expressed as follows:
"She was heartbroken";
"She has been feeling blue since she lost her job";
“Heart Sinks” is used when people hear unexpected bad news or be disappointed. For example,
"Her heart sank when she realized she forgot her keys.
Semantic shift
- Determining what metaphors and metonymies are involved in the formation of
phraseological units. For example, “qo`lidan kelmaydi” the Uzbek phrase means that no one can
do something. The metaphor is a cognitive way of understanding the human potential with
“hands”. The stable idioms and phraseological units like these that come in English, also will be
widely used. The example of them:
"Be on cloud nine" - very happy or the "head" is equal to the phrase "Head" in the Uzbek
language:
“My cousin was on cloud nine when heard about the news”.
"Give cold shoulder" - to treat a cold;
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volume 4, issue 3, 2025
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“The man gave cold shoulder at the party”.
"Evil Days" - bad, frightened days;
“They never forget the evil days which they had in the city”.
Cultural and historical values
- How are specific customs specifically represented in
phraseology? For example, if this uzbek phrase "tuz totgan joyni yomonlamaslik” means loyalty,
humanity and gratitude, in English, for example, such as “do no bite the hand feeds you”
indicates that of this. Or the English phrase "Every Jack has its Jill" is equivalent to the "teng
tengi bilan" in uzbek.
"To believe ones star" - to believe in someone's fate, or the phrase "yulduzi yulduziga to`g`ri
kelmoq" in the Uzbek language.
Cognitive Approach to Phraseology -
Cognitive linguistics views phraseological units as
linguistic representations of conceptual metaphors, metonymies, and cultural knowledge. This
perspective suggests that idiomatic expressions are not arbitrary but rather motivated by
underlying mental structures shared by speakers of a language. According to Lakoff and
Johnson's theory of conceptual metaphor, many phraseological units are rooted in universal
human experiences but can vary in form and meaning across cultures. For example, the English
phrase: "spill the beans" (to reveal a secret) has no direct equivalent in many languages, but
similar conceptual metaphors exist, such as the Uzbek expression "yog‘och orasidan shamol o'tib
ketdi" (the wind passed between the logs, meaning a secret was unintentionally exposed)
Comparative Analysis of Phraseological Units -
Different languages encode cultural and
cognitive perspectives through phraseological expressions. Some common cognitive phenomena
observed in phraseology include:
Metaphorical Thinking:
In English: "Break the ice" (to start a conversation in a tense situation)
Uzbek: "Muzni eritmoq" (to break the ice, resolve tension). This shows that the metaphor of ice
symbolizing tension or emotional distance is cross-cultural but may have slight variations.
In English: "A piece of cake" (something very easy)
In Uzbek: "Choy ichgandek oson" (as easy as drinking tea) The difference highlights how
different cultures use familiar elements “cake”and “tea” to describe ease. While both expressions
involve standing in another’s position, the Uzbek version carries a connotation of dependence
rather than empathy.
Conclusion
The cognitive analysis of phraseological units demonstrates how language embodies culture and
cognition. While some expressions are universally motivated by shared human experiences,
others reflect distinct cultural perspectives. A comparative approach helps us understand the
mental models underlying language and contributes to cross-cultural communication. Future
research in cognitive linguistics can further explore how phraseological units evolve and adapt in
multilingual contexts.
References:
1. "Real-English-phrases" by Shayna Oliviera. www.EspressoEnglish.net.
2. "Annotated phraseological dictionary of the Uzbek language" Sh. Rahmatullayev. Tashkent
1989.
3. Kövecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor: A Practical Introduction (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.
4. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. University of Chicago Press.
5. Sayidov, S., & Mirzaeva, D. (2023). Unveiling the power of metaphor. In Fergana state
university conference (pp. 134-134).
6. Langacker, R.W. (2008). Cognitive Grammar: A Basic Introduction. Oxford University Press.
7. Tokhtabayeva, M. (2017). "Cognitive interpretation of phraseological units", Uzbek language
and literature.
