EXPRESSION OF NATIONAL MENTALITY IN PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF UZBEK AND FRENCH LANGUAGES

Аннотация

This article explores the expression of national mentality through phraseological units in the Uzbek and French languages. Phraseologisms reflect cultural values, worldview, and socio- historical experience embedded in language. By analyzing selected idiomatic expressions from both languages, this study identifies culturally specific elements and universal conceptual metaphors. The research highlights how phraseological units serve as linguistic markers of national identity, shaped by traditions, lifestyles, and environmental contexts. The findings suggest that while some idioms are cross-culturally understandable due to shared human experiences, others are deeply rooted in national consciousness, thus playing a key role in intercultural communication and language learning. Keywords: phraseological units, national mentality, idioms, Uzbek language, French language, linguisticworldview, cultural values Language is not only a system of communication but also a repository of the cultural and historical experience of a nation. Among the various linguistic means that reflect national consciousness, phraseological units occupy a prominent place. These idiomatic expressions, often metaphorical and culturally loaded, encapsulate values, beliefs, emotions, and norms specific to thepeoplewho usethem. In recent years, thestudy of phraseology has gained significant attention in thefields oflinguistics, cultural studies, and translation. Phraseological units are considered “cultural markers” that reveal the peculiarities of a nation's worldview. For instance, the metaphorical image of “bread and salt” in Uzbek idioms symbolizes hospitality and respect, which stems from traditional social values, whereas in French, idioms such as “avoir le cœur sur la main” (to have the heart on the hand) reflect openness andgenerosity, rooted inWestern cultural ideals. The national mentality — a set of socially and historically conditioned traits that characterize a specific community — finds vivid expression in the language, especially through fixed expressions. Studying these units enables a deeper understanding of how people conceptualize reality, interact socially, and evaluate behaviors. This article focuses on the comparative analysis of phraseological units in Uzbek and French to explore how national mentality is manifested in these two culturally distinct languages. Uzbek represents a Turkic and Islamic cultural tradition, while French belongs to the Romance language family, influenced by Enlightenment rationalism and European secularism. Comparing idiomatic expressions from these languages allows us to observe both culturally specific and universal elements in human cognition and communication. Themain aim ofthis study isto identify: 299 INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SJIF 2019:5.2222020:5.5522021: 5.6372022:5.479 2023:6.563 2024: 7,805 eISSN:2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume 12,issue06(2025)  howphraseological units in Uzbekand French reflect national mentality;  what cultural values are embedded inthem;  which expressions are unique to one culture and which are shared due to universal human experience. Understanding these aspects is crucial not only for linguists but also for language learners, translators, and thoseinvolved in intercultural communication. METHODS This research applies a qualitative and comparative approach to analyze how phraseological units reflect national mentality in Uzbek and French languages. The primary aim was to identify culturally specific and universal features embedded in idiomatic expressions through linguistic and cultural comparison. A total of 100 phraseological units were selected for analysis, comprising 50 commonly used idioms from each language. The selection was based on their frequency, metaphorical content, and cultural relevance. Thedata were collected from various reliablesources, including:  Phraseological dictionaries such as “O‘zbek tilining izohli frazeologik lug‘ati” and “Le Petit Robert des expressions et locutions”;  Literary texts and modern journalisticmaterials;  Onlinelinguisticcorpora and digital databases. Each idiom was subjected to semantic and cultural analysis. First, idioms were grouped according to theirthematiccategories, such as:  Emotionsand psychological states (e.g., fear, anger, happiness),  Social behavior and values (e.g., honesty, hospitality),  Familyand relationships,  Nature andenvironment,  Religious orhistorical allusions. Secondly, metaphorical imagery and conceptual structure were examined to understand how each expression reflects specific cultural models. Particular attention was paid to idioms involving traditional values, body parts, animals, food, and environmental features, which often reveal the uniquecognitiveworldview ofthelanguage speakers. Finally, a comparative analysis was conducted to identify both:  Culture-boundidioms that are uniqueto one language and rooted innatio