LEXICAL-SYNTACTICAL ANALYSIS OF RIDDLES FEATURING ANIMAL NAMES IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK

Аннотация

This article provides a lexical-syntactical analysis of riddles that incorporate animal names in both English and Uzbek. It explores the ways in which animals are linguistically utilized within riddles, focusing on the vocabulary (lexicon) and sentence structure (syntax) that define these riddles. By comparing riddles from both languages, the study highlights how animals symbolize different attributes and cultural meanings, shaping the way riddles are constructed and interpreted. The article discusses examples, their syntactical structure, and the cultural implications of animal names in riddles. Keywords: Lexical analysis, syntactical analysis, riddles, animal names, English language, Uzbek language, syntax, lexicon, cross-cultural analysis, semiotics. ЛЕКСИКО-СИНТАКСИЧЕСКИЙ АНАЛИЗ ЗАГАДОК С НАЗВАНИЯМИ ЖИВОТНЫХ НА АНГЛИЙСКОМ И УЗБЕКСКОМ ЯЗЫКАХ Аннотация. В этой статье представлен лексико-синтаксический анализ загадок, включающих названия животных на английском и узбекском языках. В ней исследуются способы лингвистического использования животных в загадках, с упором на словарный запас (лексикон) и структуру предложений (синтаксис), которые определяют эти загадки. Сравнивая загадки на обоих языках, исследование подчеркивает, как животные символизируют различные атрибуты и культурные значения, формируя способ построения и интерпретации загадок. В статье обсуждаются примеры, их синтаксическая структура и культурные последствия названий животных в загадках. Ключевые слова: лексический анализ, синтаксический анализ, загадки, названия животных, английский язык, узбекский язык, синтаксис, лексикон, кросс-культурный анализ, семиотика. Riddles are an integral part of folklore, language games, and cognitive culture in both English and Uzbek-speaking communities. They are often constructed using simple language yet require deep thinking to decipher. One common feature in many riddles is the inclusion of animals, which play a symbolic role in these puzzles. Analyzing how animals are embedded in riddles from both a lexical (word choice) and syntactical (sentence structure) perspective reveals much about how language functions in different cultures. 1646 ResearchBib IF - 11.01, ISSN: 3030-3753, Volume 2 Issue 3 This article provides a comparative analysis of riddles involving animal names in English and Uzbek, exploring how animals are depicted and used to challenge the reader's understanding. In English riddles, animals often serve as metaphors or symbols, reflecting certain characteristics, behaviors, or roles. The lexical choice in these riddles includes common and familiar animals that are easily recognized by the audience. For example, the word “fox” is frequently used in riddles to represent cunning or slyness. The lexical element is crucial for the riddle's success, as it taps into the listener’s or reader’s prior knowledge of the animal’s symbolism in both language and culture. For example: “I have a tail but I’m not a dog, I can fly but I’m not a bird. What am I?”_ Answer: Bat. The lexical choices “tail” and “fly” both relate to physical traits, but they are associated with different animals. The riddle uses lexical ambiguity, which leads to the need for syntactical analysis. In Uzbek, animals also carry symbolic weight. In traditional Uzbek riddles, animals such as the "tulki" (fox) are often used to denote intelligence or craftiness. Animal names in Uzbek riddles are integral to the meaning, with each animal symbolizing different qualities within the cultural context. Misol uchun:“Peshonasi yurakdan kattaroq, kishi buni tushunmaydi. Nima bu?”_ Javob: Tulki (Fox). The lexical choices here — “peshona” (forehead) and “yurak” (heart) — are metaphorical, referring to cunning attributes. The word “tulki” also plays a significant role in conveying the meaning of the riddle. In English riddles, syntactical construction often involves wordplay, ambiguity, and the rearrangement of sentence structures to mislead the solver. The structure is crafted in a way that leads to multiple interpretations of the clues. English riddles might start with a clear subject and predicate, only to twist the expected answer by introducing a play on words. For example: “What has a face but can’t smile?” Answer: A clock. This riddle uses a simple syntactical structure but introduces a twist by using the word “face” in a non-literal sense. The sentence construction forces the reader to rethink the common meaning of “face,” leading to the unexpected answer. In Uzbek riddles, the syntax also plays a critical role in creating suspense and ambiguity. The sentence structure in Uzbek riddles is often designed to mislead or prompt the reader to consider multiple meanings. This syntactical complexity reflects the way language and culture influence the interpretation of animal-based riddles. 1647 ResearchBib IF - 11.01, ISSN: 3030-3753, Volume 2 Issue 3 Misol uchun: Boshi bor, ammo ko‘zlari yo‘q; oyoqlari bor, ammo yugurmaydi. Nima bu?” Javob: Karman