PHRASEOLOGICAL, SEMANTIC AND FUNCTIONAL-STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE CONCEPT OF “WATER” IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK

Abstract

This article analyzes the phraseological, semantic and functional-stylistic features of the concept of “water” in English and Uzbek on the basis of linguocognitive and linguoculturological approaches. The study identifies the imagery of water in language, its national-cultural connotations, metaphorical models and patterns of use in discourse. In English, water appears as a symbol of movement, time and change, whereas in Uzbek it is manifested as a source of blessing, purity and life. The concept of water in the cognitive systems of both nations has been shaped as a symbolic and axiological unit; it is not only a natural element but also a cultural symbol of human values expressed through language. English conceptualizes water through metaphors related to movement, time and flow, while Uzbek associates it with spiritual purification, generosity and blessing. In doing so, the article reveals the social and aesthetic role of the water concept in national worldviews and determines its semantic and stylistic functions within the language system.