LEXICO-SEMANTIC FEATURES OF PROVERBS BASED ON SOMATISMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK

Abstract

This study investigates the lexico-semantic characteristics of somatic proverbs—paremiological units containing terms designated for human body parts—within the English and Uzbek languages. Somatisms constitute one of the most ancient, anthropocentric, and structurally stable layers of any national lexicon, functioning as a primary cognitive tool for environmental and spiritual conceptualization. Through a comparative lexico-semantic analysis, this paper explores how anatomical components such as the "head," "heart," "hand," and "eye" undergo semantic abstraction and metaphorical mapping to articulate ethical norms, emotional states, and socio-cultural relations. The findings indicate that while universal somatic experiences generate overlapping metaphorical frameworks across both languages, distinct ethno-cultural specifics emerge: English somatic proverbs lean toward individual pragmatism and functional rationality, whereas Uzbek somatic paremias heavily emphasize communal hierarchy, kinship bonds, and metaphysical spiritual purity.