SYSTEMIC SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN THE CONCEPTOSPHERE OF ROAD IN UZBEK AND RUSSIAN LANGUAGES: A COMPARATIVE LINGUOCULTURAL ANALYSIS

Аннотация

This article analyzes how the idea of “road” is used metaphorically and culturally in Uzbek and Russian languages. Using such an analysis, the study shows that the terms yo‘l and doroga not only state meanings but also symbolize morality, national identity and how life is perceived. Referencing old texts, proverbs, literature and theories on human thinking, the study distinguishes the key and secondary aspects of the idea of a road in both languages. The expression “life is a road” works in every culture and it means “faith, community and divine harmony” in Russian literature but “spiritual effort, fate and forgiveness” in Uzbek literature. Because of different religions and ideas, these differences point to the way culture and thought connect in the use of metaphors. The investigation adds to comparative studies in conceptual thinkingbyexplaininghowdifferent cultures usecertain metaphors differently. Keywords: road metaphor; conceptosphere; Uzbek language; Russian language; cognitive linguistics;cross-cultural semantics; Introduction. The term “road” (called yo‘l in Uzbek and дорога in Russian) is important within the vocabulary and culture of both Uzbek and Russian speakers. The meaning ofthis metaphor is deeper than a detailed path and it also refers to emotions and thoughts about life, choice and our destiny. As Likhachev (1993) explained such cultural concepts as “road” function as semantic centers in a nation’s thoughts, making it possible for speakers to express abstract ideas and personal views through clear words. Such metaphors are part of our language and they also show meaningful linksamong our minds,howwe speak and culture. Though both languages use the road metaphor, it is important to see that its form and purpose are different in different cultures. In the Uzbek language, the word yo’l often brings up thoughts of faith, right and wrong and caring for society. In this language, дорога may include a sense of life-searching, solitude or the tough choice you have to make. There are subtle differences because every culture has been influenced byspecial events in history, religion and politics. The study attempts to analyze the form and meaning of “yo‘l/doroga” in Uzbek and Russian through the way it appears as metaphor in proverbs and literature. The primary aims of the investigation are to check how the concept of “road” is structured, to find out what different languages link with the concept and to find common and unique metaphorical uses for the “road.” This study explores the main ideas and the rest of what the concept of “road” carries in each language. In what way does the use of “road” metaphor suggest the national attitudes and mindset? By what sounds and language patterns does Uzbek and Russian discuss the idea of the road? Here, the article tries to discover both the similar metaphorical images found in these languages as well as their specific cultural expressions. This will benefit the developing discipline of cross- cultural cognitive linguistics and give new knowledge about the symbolic role of “road” as a https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue5,2025 1069 concept inTurkic andSlaviclanguages. Literature Review. The conceptosphere helps to explain how concepts are created and how they are organized inany language and culture system. According toKaraulov (1987), theterm means aspace where cultural concepts are connected and Likhachev (1993) added that every culture has a main set of energized and important concepts that create its world perspective. In these two languages, the word for “road” (doroga in Russian, yo‘l in Uzbek) is significant, since it exists physically as well as being a central concept for cultureand metaphors. For Russians, the way to conceptualize doroga goes way past the normal meaning of the term. According to Ippolitov (2020), in the works of Russian literature, a road is often shown as a place where characters face inner changes or important decisions. Ostrovskaya (2022) also makes it clear that in Russian novels, the doroga often symbolizes the ups and downs, tough choices or inner journey of life. These ideas can be seen in Borozdny’s explanation, where he describes the road as something that tells a story of a person’s search, feeling adrift and the process of findingmeaning inthebiggerpicture ofculture. The word yo‘l in Uzbek also has a lot of meaning and cultural background which can be shown through classical and recent proverbs. Already in the 11th-century Devoni Lug‘otit Turk, the Turkic innovator Mahmud Koshg‘ariy treated yo‘l as something with moral, social and religious value, not only as a marker of place (Koshg‘ariy, 1072). Sharipova (2022) points out that Uzbek proverbs underline destiny, good conduct and harmonious living among people. In contrast with Russian doroga metaphors which are centered on people and their own lives, Uzbek yo‘l metaphors mainly represent theculture ofthe society and its guidelines forliving. In comparative studie