SEMANTICS OF LEXICAL UNITS EXPRESSING EMOTIONS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK

Dekabr, 2025-Yil 397 SEMANTICS OF LEXICAL UNITS EXPRESSING EMOTIONS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK Izzatilloyeva Gulira'no Hikmatillo qizi Osiyo Xalqaro Universiteti, Master student E-mail:izzatillloy[email protected], +998934561402 https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18060222 Abstract. This research investigates the meanings of emotion-related words in English and Uzbek by using a comparative linguistic method to identify the similarities and differences in how emotions are understood in these two distinct languages. Utilizing semantic field theory and prototype semantics, the study analyzes a collection of emotion-related terms sourced from a corpus, focusing on key categories such as joy, anger, sadness, fear, and surprise, along with their derived and idiomatic forms. The methodology integrates qualitative semantic mapping with quantitative frequency analysis from bilingual corpora, revealing how cultural frameworks influence lexical representation—specifically, the prevalence of somatic metaphors in Uzbek emotional expressions compared to the more abstract concepts found in English. Key findings emphasize polysemy, connotative shifts, and context-dependent interpretations that reflect sociocultural norms, such as the contrast between collectivist and individualist approaches to emotional expression. This study contributes to cross-linguistic typology, offering insights for machine translation, second-language education, and intercultural psychology by linking linguistic relativity with universal emotions. Key words: emotion semantics, lexical units, English language, Uzbek language, emotional vocabulary, cross-linguistic analysis, cultural semantics Introduction This chapter introduces the study of emotion lexicon in English and Uzbek, framing it within the broader context of human experience and cross-cultural linguistic variation. It highlights that while emotions are universal, their linguistic expression and conceptualization are profoundly shaped by cultural and linguistic frameworks. The central problem addressed is the dichotomy between universal physiological bases for emotions and their languageand culturespecific lexicalization, prompting an investigation into "emotional linguistic relativity." The primary aim is to systematically analyze and compare the semantic structures of emotion-related lexical units in these two distinct languages, specifically investigating how core emotional concepts are lexicalized, structured, and metaphorically extended in each, and identifying significant similarities and differences. This comparative analysis seeks to uncover the implications of these findings for the emotional linguistic relativity hypothesis and the broader understanding of human affect across cultures, thereby contributing to the interdisciplinary study of language and emotion. Main body Semantics, as a subfield of linguistics, concerns the study of meaning in language, encompassing how words, phrases, and sentences convey concepts and how these meanings interact within contexts. At the center of this thesis is the application of semantic theories to lexical units that express emotions. The theory of the semantic field, initiated by Trier (1931) Dekabr, 2025-Yil 398 and developed by Lyons (1977), affirms that the vocabulary is organized in interdependent fields where lexemes are defined not in isolation, but through their relationships with others in the same domain. In the context of emotions, this theory allows us to map lexical networks, revealing the hierarchies, synonyms, antonyms and hyponyms that structure emotional expression. Prototype semantics, advanced by Rosch (1973) and Lakoff (1987), complements this by suggesting that categories are not rigidly defined, but centered on prototype exemplars with fuzzy boundaries. For lexemes denoting emotions, prototypes may include central terms such as "happy" in English or "xursand" in Uzbek, with peripheral extensions that vary according to cultural and contextual factors. This framework is particularly suitable for comparative analysis because it takes into account cross-linguistic variations in category membership and gradation. Cognitive semantics, influenced by Langacker (1987) and Talmy (2000), emphasizes the embodied and experiential basis of meaning. Emotions, being essentially subjective and physiological, are often conceptualized through metaphors and metonyms, such as "boiling anger" in English or somatic expressions such as "yuragi ezilmoq" (broken heart) in Uzbek to indicate sadness. These theories support the exploration of the thesis of how linguistic structures reflect cognitive universals while being modulated by cultural specificities. The interdisciplinary nature of the studies of emotions is inspired by psychology, where Ekman (1992) proposed six basic emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust, universally recognized by facial expressions, although with different facial cultural variations (different facial expressions and fear)1. 1992). Linguistically, Wierzbicka (1999) advocates natural semantic metalinguage (NSM), a tool to break down meanings into universal primitives, which allows cross-cultural comparisons. This approach was applied to the terms of emotions, finding that even the core components (for example, "feel something good" for joy) are shared, the elaborations are different; The English "joy" can emphasize internal euphoria, while the Uzbek "shodlik" can include communal celebration 2. Linguistic relativity, derived 1. Ekman, P. (1992). An argument for basic emotions. Cognition & Emotion, 6(3-4), 169–200 2. Wierzbicka, A. (1999). Emotions Across Languages and Cultures: Diversity and Universals. Cambridge University Press. from the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (Whorf, 1956), suggests that language shapes thought, including emotional perception. Studies by Pavlenko (2005) on bilinguals show that emotional vocabulary influences affective processing, with languages such as Russian (similar to Uzbek in some influences) favoring relational terms over individualistic terms in English. In Turkic languages, including Uzbek, emotional lexemes are often integrated with proofs and honorifics, reflecting social hierarchies (Aikhenvald, 2004) 3 . Comparative semantics examines how meanings correspond or differ between languages. Kövecses (2000) highlights metaphorical universals in the conception of emotions, such as Anger IS HEAT, but notes cultural variations, for example, "brash" in English versus its Uzbek equivalents based on nomadic or Islamic cultural motifs. Research on Indo-European and Altaic languages (Uzbek family) is sparse; however, parallels can be drawn with Turkish Dekabr, 2025-Yil 399 studies (Aksu-Koç, 2005), where emotions are anchored somatically, similar to how Uzbeks use metaphors of body parts (for example, "ko'ngil" for heart/mind in emotional contexts)4. Advancements in corpus-based approaches to semantics, notably articulated by Sinclair (1991), have dramatically transformed the landscape of lexical analysis. By anchoring semantic interpretation in empirical data -specifically, frequency patterns and collocational behavior5. These methodologies facilitate amore rigorous examination of language use. This study leverages bilingual and parallel corpora, when available, alongside analytical tools such as Sketch Engine, to systematically compare emotional lexemes across various languages. Consequently, corpus data in this context serve as a vital methodological bridge that connects qualitative semantic interpretations with quantitative validation. This approach ensures that theoretical insights are substantiated by documented language use rather than relying solely on introspective judgment. In recent years, the study of how we understand and express emotions through language has taken a new direction, thanks in part to the ideas put forth by Sinclair in 1991. Instead of relying purely on theory or personal intuition, researchers are now using actual language samples gathered from various texts, often through methods that track how frequently words are used together. This is important because it allows for a better comparison of emotional vocabulary across different 3. Aikhenvald, A. Y. (2004). 4. Kövecses, Z. (2000). Metaphor and Emotion: Language, Culture, and Body in Human Feeling. Cambridge University Press. 5. Sinclair, J. (1991). Corpus, Concordance, Collocation. Oxford University Press. see how emotional words behave in context. This approach not only helps in interpreting meanings but also backs up those interpretations with real-world examples of language use.there has been a lot of focus on emotion semantics in well-studied languages like English and other Indo-Europeanlanguages-some comparative work is available, like Soriano's research in 2003 - languages from Central Asia have received much less attention. For example, when it comes to emotional vocabulary in Turkic languages, there's a lack of comprehensive studies. Most of the existing work is either historical or descriptive, asnoted by Kononov in 1969. Moreover, there's a noticeable absence of studies that draw direct comparisons between these languages and English. This research aims to fill that avoid by blending modern theories of semantics with insights from cultural anthropology. It draws on Hofstede's framework from 1980, which categorizes cultures based on individualism versus collectivism. The goal here is to explore how the values embedded in different cultures affect the way emotions are expressed and conceptualized in both English and Uzbek. This approach not only brings new empirical data to the table but also enhances theoretical understanding in a field that hasn't received adequate attention. Analysis of common emotional categories like joy, anger, sadness, fear, and surprise-indicates that both languages reflect universal psychological traits identified by psychologist Paul Ekman in 1992. These include how emotions are evaluated and their physiological effects. However, it's clear that the way these emotions are expressed in words can be quite different. For instance, the English word "happy" and the Uzbek word "xursand" both express positive feelings at their core, but they branch out in different directions. English tends to highlight the internal emotional experiences of Dekabr, 2025-Yil 400 individuals, while Uzbek often reinforces social connections and shared experiences within a community. This shows that the cultural backgrounds of the languages influence how emotions are articulated-where English leans towards individuality, Uzbek emphasizes relationships and social bonds. Context is also crucial in understanding how emotions are expressed in the two languages. In English, terms related to anger often use abstract metaphors, which connect to concepts of containment as explored in cognitive metaphor theory by George Lakoff in 1987. On the other hand, Uzbek frequently utilizes what linguists call somatic metonymies, allowing speakers to convey emotions in terms of bodily sensations. This distinction is supported by data that shows English speakers tend to express emotions more individually, while Uzbek speakers often link emotions to the social environment, aligning with Hofstede's 1980 cultural dimensions 6. 6 . Hofstede, G. (1980). Culture's Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values. The idioms and language patterns we see in both languages further illustrate the idea of linguistic relativity -the notion that the language someone speaks can influence their thought processes. Both languages describe fear using metaphors related to being immobilized. However, Uzbek expressions often include nuances that reflect shared knowledge and social perceptions of emotions. This indicates that while there are common semantics across languages, the way People express emotion is heavily influenced by their cultural contexts. Considering these findings through various theoretical lenses reveals some interesting insights. They align with semantic field theory as proposed by Lyons in 1977, which suggests that emotional words are part of interconnected networks rather than standalone terms. Prototype semantics, highlighted by Rosch in 1973, helps explain the variation within emotional categories, where basic terms serve as cognitive touchpoints influenced by culturally relevant examples. A cognitive semantic perspective shows that even though there are universal metaphors for emotions present in both languages, their specific expressions reflect the differing cultural values-abstract conceptualizations in English compared to more embodied expressions in Uzbek. From a psychological standpoint, the research supports socio-cultural models of emotion, as noted by Mesquita and Frijda in 1992. This means that how we perceive emotions and articulate them in language is significantly influenced by our social structures and cultural expectations. This nuanced interaction enhances the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, suggesting that while language influences how we interpret emotions, it operates within a framework shaped by common human experiences. Conclusion This chapter has systematically explored the semantics of lexical units expressing emotions in English and Uzbek, integrating theories of emotional linguistic relativity, cognitive semantics, and psycholinguistic findings. Key contributions include the rigorous application of cognitive semantic frameworks to dissect nuanced emotion meanings, providing empirical evidence for the emotional linguistic relativity hypothesis through detailed cross-linguistic insights into lexicalization patterns, metaphorical conceptualizations, and culturally specific terms. The study also emphasized an interdisciplinary approach, bridging linguistic and psychological perspectives. Dekabr, 2025-Yil 401 Acknowledged limitations include reliance on a curated lexical inventory over a largescale, controlled corpus analysis, and a need for more extensive ethnographic data and native speaker elicitation for Uzbek emotion semantics. Future research should prioritize large-scale parallel corpus studies, experimental psycholinguistic investigations comparing emotion word processing in Uzbek to English, and in-depth ethnographic research. Additionally, longitudinal studies on Uzbek-English bilinguals are crucial to further explore how language influences subjective emotional experiences and expressive repertoires, thereby advancing our understanding of this complex inter-relationship. Reference 1. Safarova, R. Leksik-semantik munosabatning turlari. Toshkent, O‘qituvchi, 1996. 2. Hogan, Patrick Colm. Literature and Moral Feeling: A Cognitive Poetics of Ethics, Narrative, and Empathy. Cambridge University Press, 2022 3. Собиров А. Ўзбек тилининг лексик сатҳини системалар системаси тамойили асосида тадқиқ этиш : монография / А. Собиров. – Тошкент : Маънавият, 2004 4. Axmedova Niluzar. Semantic-pragmatic interpretation of emotional lexicon: A case study of English and Uzbek languages: conference paper. – 2025. 5. Azimbayeva D.A. The comparative analysis of words denoting feelings and emotions in Uzbek and Russian languages // American Journal of Education and Learning. – 2024. – Vol. 2 No. 5. 6. Ekman, P. An argument for basic emotions // Cognition and Emotion. – 1992. – Vol. 6, No. 3-4. – B. 169–200. 7. Hofstede, G. Culture's consequences: International differences in work-related values. – Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1980. – 475 b. 8. Kipchakova, S., Ziyakulova, S., Kamolova, F. Semantic differences in expressions of emotion in English and Uzbek // Modern Science and Research. – 2024. – 3 (11). – B. 395– 398. 9. Kövecses, Z. Metaphor and emotion: Language, culture, and body in human feeling. – Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. – 223 b. 10. Pavlenko, A. Emotions and multilingualism. – Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005. – 304 b. 11. Rosch, E. Natural categories // Cognitive Psychology. – 1973. – Vol. 4, No. 3. – B. 328–350. 12. Rustamov Firdavs Rafael o'g'li, Jumayev Bekzodjon To'ra o'g'li, Nishonova Sayyora Saidovna. Conceptualization of Emotion in English and Uzbek: A Cognitive-Semantic Typology. – Zenodo, 2025. 13. Toshpulatova, N. Ingliz tili leksikasining taraqqiyoti: dissertatsiya. - Toshkent, 2022. -120 b. 14. Turgunov Shukhratjon. The Lexico-Semantic Field of Negative Emotions in English and Uzbek: A Cognitive Perspective // xxi asrda innovatsion texnologiyalar, fan va taʼlim taraqqiyotidagi dolzarb muammolar nomli respublika ilmiy-amaliy konferensiyasi. – 2023. – 1(10). – B. 258–261. 15. Wierzbicka, A. Emotions across languages and cultures: Diversity and universals. – Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. – 349 b.