ISSN:
2181-3906
2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN
SCIENCE
АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
1676
LEXICAL-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF UNITS EXPRESSING A PERSON'S MENTAL
STATE IN THE UZBEK LANGUAGE
Akhmedova Niluzar Akmalovna
PhD student at Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature named after Alisher
Navoi.
niluzaraxmedova4@gmail.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15555381
Abstract. This article studies the lexical-semantic properties of units expressing the
mental state of a person in the Uzbek language. The semantic analysis of these units, their use in
context and their role in the speech structure are studied. The methods of lexical-semantic
analysis, component analysis, contextual analysis and comparison were used in the research.
The results show that units expressing the mental state in the Uzbek language have their
own semantic changes in different contexts, which play an important role in increasing the
expressiveness of speech. The role of these units in modern speech and literary language is also
considered.
Keywords: mood, lexical-semantic analysis, emotional units, contextual analysis,
component analysis, synonymy, antonymy, Uzbek language, psycholinguistics, phraseological
units.
Introduction
Language is a reflection of human thinking and emotions. Each language, through its
vocabulary, forms units that express the mental state of a person. In the Uzbek language, the
units that express the mental state of a person are wide and diverse, and they serve to clearly and
vividly express human emotions. This article analyzes the lexical-semantic aspects of the units
that express the mental state of a person.
In linguistics, units that express a person's mental state are studied separately, their
semantic properties, structure and usage characteristics are studied. These units are related to
human psychology and the culture of society, and their range of expression is wide. Words such
as "happy", "sad", "excited", "worried", "terrified" in the Uzbek language reflect various
emotional states of a person.
Units expressing a person's mental state are not only a linguistic phenomenon, but also a
complex system dependent on psychological and cultural factors. Because language is a
reflection of human thinking, and the various expressions of emotions form the lexical wealth of
the language. For example, in Uzbek folk proverbs and folk oral literature, various states of a
person are expressed, which further enriches the layers of meaning of language units.
In linguistic research, lexical-semantic analysis is considered an important tool for
studying the semantic interrelationships of language units. Words and phrases expressing a state
of mind, according to their semantic structure, reflect various emotional states: joy, sadness, fear,
surprise, trust or doubt. Therefore, this article analyzes the lexical meaning, semantic
interrelationships and contextual use of such units.
The main purpose of the article is to analyze lexical units expressing the mental state of a
person in the Uzbek language and determine their place in the semantic system.
ISSN:
2181-3906
2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN
SCIENCE
АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
1677
In addition, the synonymous and antonymic relations of these units, the features of their
use in speech, and context-dependent changes in meaning are studied. Based on the results
obtained, an attempt is made to determine the emotional and expressive properties of these
words.
This study also has practical significance, as it helps to understand the semantic features
of the Uzbek lexicon more deeply. In particular, the issue of choosing the right words expressing
a state of mind is of great importance in translation processes. It is also important to study these
units from the point of view of psycholinguistics and cultural studies, since the lexical-semantic
system of each language is associated with the worldview and thinking of that people.
LITERATURE ANALYSIS AND METHODOLOGY
Units that express a person's mental state have been widely covered in various literary
sources. The importance of this area in linguistics is that how human thinking and emotions are
reflected in language has always been an important issue.
Academician A. Abduazizov (2007) in his work “Semantic Features of the Uzbek
Language” expresses his opinion on the lexical structure of emotional and expressive units and
their role in the language. According to him, units expressing a mental state are important not
only in terms of meaning, but also in terms of stylistic and pragmatic aspects.
N. Mahmudov and Sh. Nurmonov (2015) also conducted research on the role of lexical-
semantic layers in Uzbek grammar. They believe that units expressing emotional states increase
the clarity and expressiveness of speech.
Linguist O. Bobur (2020) notes in his article "Classification of Emotional Units in the
Uzbek Language" that most words expressing a person's mental state are metaphorical in nature
and often change meaning depending on the context.
There are many scientific sources devoted to the issue of lexical-semantic analysis of
units expressing a person's mental state in the Uzbek language. For example, Kh. Jo'rayev (2018)
in his study "Language and Emotion" analyzes the syntactic and semantic aspects of units
expressing a person's emotional state. In his study, he constructs a lexical paradigm of emotional
units and reveals their antonymic and synonymous relationships.
G. Karimova (2019) also touched upon emotional units in the Uzbek language in her
research. In particular, she studies the use of emotional units in Uzbek folk art and literary texts,
and explores their linguocultural aspects. Her research shows that the use of units expressing
emotional states in the Uzbek language is significant not only in grammatical terms, but also in
cultural and psychological terms.
J. Sodiqov (2021) in his article “Expressivity and Emotional Units in the Uzbek
Language” focuses on the stylistic characteristics of units that express a person's mental state. He
sheds light on the use of these units in poetic texts and their importance in creating images.
Also, in the research conducted by Kh. Rahmonov (2022), the diachronic development,
that is, the historical development, of units expressing emotional states in the Uzbek language
was studied. The results of the research show that some emotional units were inherited from
ancient Turkic languages, while others were formed during the development of the modern
language.
ISSN:
2181-3906
2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN
SCIENCE
АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
1678
The translation of lexical-semantic units is also an important area of research. Sh.
Turaqulov (2023) in his article discusses the semantic changes that occur in units expressing
emotional states when translated from Uzbek into other languages. In his opinion, since some
emotional units do not have an exact equivalent in the translation process, their meaning is
conveyed by logical interpretation or the addition of contextual details.
The analysis of the literature shows that although units expressing a person's mental state
have been studied in various areas of linguistics, there are still aspects that have not been fully
elucidated. In particular, new research is needed on the use of these units in different contexts,
dialectal characteristics, and comparison with other languages.
This study conducted a lexical-semantic analysis of units representing the mental state of
a person, and included the main approaches to the research methodology. The following methods
and techniques were used in the study:
1.
Lexical-semantic analysis
- a semantic analysis of units expressing a state of mind was
conducted. For example, although the words "worry" and "anxiety" have similar meanings,
"worry" more often expresses a state that occurs under the influence of external factors, while
"anxiety" refers to an internal experience and a long-lasting emotional process. This analysis also
examined the connotative properties and antonymic pairs of units of a state of mind.
2.
Component analysis
– this method was used to analyze the semantic structure of words
expressing a state of mind. For example, the word "bakhtiyor" has the main component "baht",
and by adding the suffix "-yor" to it, a new semantic layer is created, denoting a person's long-
lasting inner satisfaction. At the same time, the word "khursand" denotes a feeling that is short-
term and dependent on external influences. As a result of this analysis, the synonymous layer and
semantic field were further illuminated.
3.
Contextual analysis
– the use of words and phrases in different texts was studied. For
example, while the word "anger" is used in works of fiction as a means of expressing a strong
emotion ("His eyes flashed with anger"), it was observed that it is used as a general description
of a negative emotional state in scientific and official texts ("Anger has a negative effect on a
person's mental state").
4.
The method of comparison
- the differences between units expressing a state of mind in
Turkic languages were studied. For example, the Uzbek word "joy" is expressed in Kazakh as
"quanysh", and in Turkish as "sevinç". However, there are subtle semantic differences between
them, and while the Turkish word "sevinç" denotes a short-term feeling of happiness,
"jubilation" in Uzbek can be a long-lasting feeling.
5.
Ethnolinguistic analysis
- the reflection of units expressing a mental state in folk oral
literature was studied. For example, the expression "Kongli akhi adam" means "generous and
sincere person" in Uzbek, but when directly translated into Russian or English, it does not give
such a meaning. This shows the connection between language and culture.
6.
Psycholinguistic approach
- the relationship between units expressing human
consciousness and mental state was studied. For example, the word "sadness" expresses a heavy
and recurring emotional state in the human consciousness, while the word "pity" expresses a
short-term and directed emotional attitude towards others. This study sought to determine how
lexical units associated with mental processes are related to human perception.
ISSN:
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2025
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«MODERN
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VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
1679
The semantic system of units expressing mental states in the Uzbek language is complex,
and their pragmatic functions are manifested in a wide range. The methodological foundations of
the study allow for a broader coverage of this topic and a comparative analysis with other
languages.
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
Based on the results of the study, the lexical-semantic aspects of the units of mental state
in the Uzbek language were studied in depth. It was observed that the semantic field of lexical
units is manifested differently in different contexts. This is especially evident in the formation of
synonymous and antonymic relationships. For example, although the words "hursand" and
"hursandlik" have synonymous proximity, one denotes an emotional state, and the other denotes
the duration of the state.
The results of the component analysis showed that these units form additional semantic
meaning through morphological changes. The transition of the word "worry" to the form "worry"
leads to its acquisition of a dynamic meaning. Also, the difference between the words "joy" and
"joy" refers to the process of transition from a state of a person to a state of action.
Also, during the study, examples of the use of expressions expressing a state of mind
were analyzed. For example, the expression "there is sadness in the heart" indicates that a person
is deeply worried, while the expression "the heart is like a mountain" expresses a relaxed,
relieved emotional state. Such expressions are widely used in fiction, poetry, and folk proverbs.
For example, the proverb "The heart drinks water from the heart" shows that the state of
mind depends on interpersonal relationships.
In addition, attention was paid to the use of units expressing a person's mental state in
modern speech. Although the expression "to get stressed" is often used in modern everyday
speech, among traditional Uzbek expressions there are variants that correspond to it, such as "to
be anxious with one's heart" or "to be squeezed from within." This demonstrates the formation of
new concepts and lexical units in the process of dynamic language development.
The influence of different dialects is also noticeable in the use of units expressing mood
in the Uzbek language. For example, in the Tashkent dialect there are expressions such as “kayfi
tushmoq” and in the Bukhara dialect there are expressions such as “dili havuchday bo'ldi”, which
are used to express different moods. This also shows the dialectal richness of the Uzbek
language.
The use of units expressing the mental state in the speech process in fiction was analyzed.
In Uzbek literature, in the works of Alisher Navoi "Khamsa", in the novel "Days By
Gone" by Abdulla Qodiriy, and in the poems of Chulpon, expressions expressing human mental
experiences are widely used. For example, the expression "my heart was broken" is used in
Chulpon's work to express the deep suffering of a person.
Modern linguistic research also studies the psychological impact of words that express a
state of mind. In particular, in the field of psycholinguistics, the impact of units that express a
state of mind on a person's consciousness and perception is being studied. For example, the
words "desperate" and "hopeful" are considered tools that directly affect a person's psychological
mood.
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In general, the Uzbek language has an extensive and complex system of mood units, and
the study of their semantic and contextual aspects is of great importance not only from the point
of view of linguistics, but also from the point of view of psychology and cultural studies.
The results of the study show that the units expressing the mental state of a person in the
Uzbek language have a wide lexical-semantic network, and their contextual use can be different.
During the study, the lexical-semantic properties of the units of mental state in the Uzbek
language, their synonymous and antonymic relationships, and the features of their use in various
speech contexts were determined.
According to the results of lexical-semantic analysis, synonymous and antonymous pairs
are widespread among mental state units, which serve to enhance the emotional tone of the word.
For example, "worry" and "calm" are units of opposite meaning, while "joy" and "joy"
are mutually synonymous words. Their subtleties of meaning are manifested differently in
different contexts.
According to the results of component analysis, these units are structurally complex, and
their basic meaning is further enriched through morphological changes. For example, derivatives
such as "kuvontirmoq" and "kuvonchi ortmoq" are derived from the word "kuvonch". This
allows us to study the various manifestations of these units in the language.
The results of the contextual analysis showed that the units of mental state are used
differently in different genres. While in fiction these units are a means of creating an image, in
scientific texts they are given neutral, clear definitions. For example, while "anger" is used as a
dramatic emotion in works of fiction, in psychological research it is used as a means of analyzing
the emotional state of a person.
The results of ethnolinguistic analysis showed that the cultural and traditional values of
the Uzbek people directly influenced the formation of mental state units. Expressions such as
"open-minded" or "narrow-minded" express the reflection of the mentality and social relations of
the people in the language.
In addition, the use of mood units is also manifested in everyday speech in different
ways. For example, the expression "to hurt one's heart" indicates a person's sadness, while the
expression "to brighten one's heart" indicates joy and comfort. These expressions show how
emotional states in real life are reflected in language. In fiction, mood units often serve to
fully form an image. For example, in the novel "O’tgan kunlar" the expression "sad Nigora"
more clearly describes the emotional experiences of the hero.
Also, folk proverbs and sayings clearly express a person's mood through mood units. For
example, the proverb "A person with an empty heart cries quickly" indicates a person's
susceptibility to emotions, while the proverb "May the heart be as clean as a mirror" describes a
person's honesty and purity. This shows that lexical units related to mood in the Uzbek language
are closely related to cultural and traditional values.
In general, the results of the study show that mood units in the Uzbek language have a
complex semantic and contextual system, which can serve as an important scientific resource for
linguistics and psychology.
ISSN:
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«MODERN
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VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
1681
CONCLUSION
The results of the study show that in the Uzbek language, units expressing the mental
state of a person have a unique lexical-semantic system, which perform various pragmatic and
contextual functions. As a result of analyzing the semantic field of these units, their mutual
relationship, synonym and antonym layers, and features of expression in different languages
were identified.
During the study, lexical-semantic analysis, component analysis, contextual analysis and
comparison methods were used. As a result of lexical-semantic analysis, the main semantic
components of units expressing a mental state were identified. For example, although the words
"hursand" and "kuvonch" are synonymous, it was found that one of them expresses a short-term
emotional state, and the other a long-lasting feeling. Also, when analyzing antonymic units, it
was found that such opposite concepts as "xavotir" and "khotirjamlik", "kuvonch" and "g'am"
expand the level of expression of emotional units in the Uzbek language.
Based on component analysis, the structural structure of units expressing mental states
was studied. It was shown that new meanings are formed through morphological forms of words,
prefixes and suffixes. For example, when the suffix "-chilik" is added to the word "happy", it
moves from a personal emotional state to an abstract concept.
As a result of contextual analysis, the features of the use of these units in speech were
studied. It was determined how these units are used differently in literary, scientific and official
texts. For example, "anger" is used as a strong emotion in literary works, while in scientific texts
it is used as a psychological description of a mental state.
Using an ethnolinguistic approach, it was studied how the culture and traditions of the
Uzbek people influenced the formation of units expressing a mental state. It turned out that
national values and traditions are reflected in the lexical structure of these units. For example, the
expression "open-hearted" has a positive connotation in Uzbek, but when directly translated into
other languages, this meaning may be lost.
Also, using psycholinguistic analysis, the relationship between the expressions of mental
state units in the human mind and emotional processes was studied. According to the results of
the study, the semantic system of mental state units is an important linguistic element that
accurately reflects the emotional and psychological state of people.
Overall, this study shows that the Uzbek language has a rich and complex system of
units expressing mental states, and the study of their semantic and contextual properties is of
great importance in identifying the intersections of linguistics and psychology. The results of the
study serve as an important scientific basis for future linguistic developments in this area.
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ISSN:
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2025
International scientific journal
«MODERN
SCIENCE
АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 5 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
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