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BUSINESS TERMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES: A COMPARATIVE
OVERVIEW
Jabborov I.A.
Angren Universiteti
“Til va uni o’qitish metodikasi” kafedrasi Ingliz tili o’qituvchisi
Amilova Kamola Djalolovna
Angren Universiteti
“Til va uni o’qitish metodikasi” kafedrasi cht-11 guruhi talabasi
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15471468
Abstract
This article presents a comparative analysis of business terms in the English and Uzbek
languages. As globalization and economic reforms continue to shape linguistic landscapes,
understanding how business terminology is structured, borrowed, and adapted across
different cultures is crucial. The article explores the origins, usage, semantic features, and
cultural implications of business terms in both languages. It highlights key differences and
similarities, discusses borrowing and neologism formation in Uzbek, and emphasizes the role
of language policy in standardizing business vocabulary. The comparative approach provides
insight into the challenges of translation and localization in business communication and
underscores the importance of developing clear, consistent terminology for economic and
educational development.
Keywords:
business terms, English, Uzbek, terminology, translation, globalization,
semantic features, language borrowing
Introduction
Business terminology plays a central role in modern communication, especially in
international and multilingual contexts. In countries like Uzbekistan, which is transitioning to
a market-oriented economy, the development and standardization of business terms have
become increasingly important. English, being the dominant language of global business,
heavily influences the business lexicon in many non-English speaking countries, including
Uzbekistan.
This article analyzes how business terms are formed, used, and understood in English
and Uzbek. It considers their semantic structures, the impact of borrowing and adaptation,
and cultural differences that influence how business is conceptualized and discussed.
The Structure of Business Terminology in English
English business vocabulary is vast, nuanced, and rooted in centuries of commercial
development. Terms are often formed through:
Compounding
: e.g., "stockholder," "market share"
Abbreviation and acronyms
: e.g., ROI (Return on Investment), GDP (Gross Domestic
Product)
Metaphorical language
: e.g., "cutting-edge technology," "launch a product"
Idiomatic expressions
: e.g., "think outside the box," "move the needle"
These terms reflect a culture of innovation, competition, and speed. The language is
often concise, direct, and abstract, favoring conceptual clarity over descriptive detail.
The Nature of Business Terminology in Uzbek
Uzbek business terminology is still in a developmental phase. With the fall of the Soviet
Union and Uzbekistan's economic liberalization, there has been a growing need to build a
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modern business lexicon. Uzbek business terms come from:
Native words
: e.g., "savdo" (trade), "tadbirkor" (entrepreneur)
Russian borrowings
: e.g., "bankrotlik" (bankruptcy)
English borrowings
: e.g., "marketing," "startup," "brending"
Calques and neologisms
: e.g., "tashqi xizmatdan foydalanish" (outsourcing)
Language policy bodies like the State Language Commission work to coin and
standardize Uzbek equivalents, though foreign terms often remain dominant in practice.
Semantic Fields in Business Language
Both English and Uzbek contain business terms across similar semantic fields:
Semantic Field
English
Uzbek
Finance
capital, asset, loan
kapital, aktiv, qarz
Marketing
brand, campaign
brend, kampaniya
Management
leadership, strategy
rahbarlik, strategiya
Human Resources
hiring, promotion
ishga olish, ko‘tarilish
International Trade
export, tariff
eksport, bojxona to‘lovi
While some Uzbek terms are direct translations, many are loanwords or adapted forms.
For example, "strategiya" is borrowed from Russian or English, while "rahbarlik" is a native
derivation.
Borrowing and Adaptation
Borrowing is a major source of business terminology in Uzbek. There are several
patterns:
Phonetic borrowing
: retaining pronunciation (e.g., "marketing")
Semantic borrowing
: adopting the concept with different form (e.g., "tadbirkor" for
entrepreneur)
Structural adaptation
: modifying form and suffix (e.g., "investitsiya qilish")
These borrowings are often necessary to fill gaps in the native lexicon. However, over-
reliance on foreign terms can lead to confusion and lack of uniformity in usage.
Translation and Semantic Equivalence
Translating business terms between English and Uzbek poses semantic challenges.
Words like "equity," "hedge fund," or "benchmark" may not have direct equivalents in Uzbek
due to different legal and financial systems.
Some terms undergo semantic narrowing or broadening in translation:
English "promotion" (marketing or job-related) → Uzbek "ko‘tarilish" (usually job-
related only)
English "startup" → Uzbek may use "yangi tashkil etilgan kompaniya" or simply
"startup"
In professional contexts, the use of untranslated English terms is common among
bilingual speakers.
Cultural and Pragmatic Considerations
Cultural differences shape how business is discussed. In English-speaking contexts,
assertiveness, innovation, and competition are emphasized, reflected in terms like "market
domination" or "aggressive strategy."
Uzbek business language tends to be more formal, respectful, and rooted in collective
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values. For example, the term "jamoa" (team) often emphasizes harmony and cooperation
rather than competitiveness.
Moreover, Islamic values influence financial terminology in Uzbek. For example, terms
like "foiz" (interest) may be viewed with ethical considerations in Islamic finance.
Trends and Innovations
The rise of digital business has led to the creation of new terms in both languages:
English
Uzbek (used or proposed)
e-commerce
elektron savdo
digital marketing
raqamli marketing
online payment
onlayn to‘lov
fintech
moliyaviy texnologiya
remote work
masofaviy ish
Uzbek often adapts or directly borrows these terms, and digital media plays a role in
their spread and normalization.
The Role of Language Policy and Education
In Uzbekistan, various institutions aim to promote the Uzbek language in all spheres,
including business. However, the widespread use of English in business and technology
complicates full localization.
Efforts include:
Publishing bilingual business dictionaries
Creating Uzbek equivalents for common business terms
Encouraging use of Uzbek in economic education and publications
English, however, remains a vital language for international business, and Uzbek
professionals often need to be proficient in both languages.
Conclusion
The comparative study of English and Uzbek business terminology reveals the dynamic
interplay between language, culture, and economics. English, with its global dominance,
serves as both a model and a source of vocabulary. Uzbek, on the other hand, balances
between borrowing, adaptation, and the creation of native equivalents to support national
identity and linguistic clarity.
Understanding the structure, meaning, and cultural nuances of business terms in both
languages is essential for translators, business professionals, and language planners. As global
and local markets evolve, so too will the language of business, reflecting the needs and values
of the societies that use them.
References:
Используемая литература:
Foydalanilgan adabiyotlar:
1.
Crystal, D. (2003).
English as a Global Language
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Oxford Business English Dictionary (2005). Oxford University Press.
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Alikhanov, R. (2021). "O‘zbek tilida iqtisodiy terminlar: muammo va yechimlar."
O‘zbek
tili va adabiyoti
jurnali.
4.
Ahmadaliyev, M. (2020). "Biznes leksikasini tarjima qilishdagi semantik farqlar."
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Filologiya masalalari
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Kurganov, A. (2018).
Inglizcha-o‘zbekcha iqtisodiy lug‘at
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The State Language Commission of Uzbekistan. (2022).
Terminlar ro‘yxati va tavsiyalari
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English for Business: CEFR B2
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