COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS EXPRESSING INTELLECTUAL ABILITY ( BASED IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LITERARY PROSE)

Abstract

This study offers a comparative analysis of phraseological units (idioms) denoting intellectual capacity as they manifest in English and Uzbek literary prose. The goal of the research is to find out what the two languages have in common and what makes them different in terms of meaning, structure, and, most importantly, culture and language. Using literary texts as a primary source gives us the practical context we need to look at the meanings and stylistic functions of these units beyond what the dictionary says. The analysis classifies the identified phraseological units into three tiers of equivalence: full equivalents, which are infrequent and denote universal concepts; partial equivalents, where meaning is conveyed but imagery varies significantly; and non-equivalents (lacunae), which are profoundly entrenched in the distinct cultural and historical contexts of each nation. Key findings indicate that although both languages share foundational conceptual metaphors (e.g., the mind is a container), English idioms often utilize imagery associated with sharpness and mechanical function (e.g., “a sharp mind”), highlighting an emphasis on individual precision. Uzbek idioms, on the other hand, often use metaphors of breadth, capacity, and images from nature and farming life (for example, “Aqli keng,” which means “broad-minded”), which stresses wisdom and social experience. The study concludes that this comparative analysis elucidates the linguistic structures of both languages while also offering significant insights into the unique cultural values, historical contexts, and worldviews of the English and Uzbek peoples as manifested in their literary heritage