THE CONCEPT OF “LONELINESS” IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LINGUISTIC WORLDVIEWS

Abstract

The concept of loneliness has become one of the most significant topics in contemporary linguistic and cultural studies. As a complex cognitive and emotional phenomenon, loneliness reflects not only an individual’s psychological state but also the cultural values and worldview of a speech community. This thesis explores the linguistic representation of the concept of loneliness in English and Uzbek linguistic worldviews. The study focuses on lexical meanings, semantic characteristics, and cultural interpretations of the concept in both languages. A comparative approach is employed to identify similarities and differences in the verbalization of loneliness. The findings demonstrate that although both languages associate loneliness with emotional isolation and the absence of social interaction, each linguistic culture reflects unique cultural perceptions and value systems. The research contributes to comparative linguistics, cognitive linguistics, and linguocultural studies by revealing how language encodes culturally specific understandings of human emotions.