ENGLISH-ORIGIN SPORTS TERMINOLOGY IN UZBEK: A STUDY OF DIRECT AND INDIRECT BORROWINGS

Abstract

This paper investigates English-origin sports terminology in Uzbek, distinguishing between direct borrowings from English and indirect borrowings mediated through Russian. Drawing on theories of language contact and lexical borrowing (Haugen, 1950; Weinreich, 1953; Thomason & Kaufman, 1988), as well as Uzbek scholarship on lexicology and terminology (Hojiyev, 1992; Rahmatullayev, 2006; Begmatov, 1985), the study analyses phonological, morphological, and semantic adaptation processes in selected sports terms. The findings reveal two historical layers of borrowing: Soviet-era indirect borrowings shaped by Russian influence, and post-independence direct borrowings reflecting globalisation and increased exposure to English. The study argues that sports terminology in Uzbek serves as linguistic evidence of sociopolitical transformation and demonstrates the structural adaptability of the Uzbek language.