LINGUACULTURAL FEATURES OF PERIPHRASIS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

Аннотация

This article examines the linguacultural features of periphrasis in English and Uzbek languages. Both languages, belonging to different linguistic families and cultural traditions, showcase periphrasis as a means of politeness, indirectness, respect, and emotional coloring. By comparing English and Uzbek periphrastic constructions, the study aims to highlight how cultural attitudes towards communication — such as the importance of politeness strategies, indirectness, and honorifics — shape linguistic forms. Key words: periphrasis, language, culture, comparative analysis, cross-cultural communication. Language is a dynamic and intricate system that serves as a primary medium for human communication, shaping thought, culture, and social interactions. One of the key stylistic and expressive tools within language is periphrasis, which plays a significant role in both written and oral communication. Periphrasis is widely used in literature, rhetoric, and everyday speech to enhance expressiveness, avoid repetition, or provide euphemistic alternatives. At the same time, language and culture are inseparable, each deeply influencing the other. Periphrasis often reflects a society’s cultural norms, values, and ways of thinking. Thus, analyzing periphrastic expressions from a linguacultural perspective provides valuable insights into how different linguistic communities structure their communication. Understanding these features not only enriches our knowledge of English and Uzbek linguistic systems but also contributes to broader cross-cultural communication studies. Periphrasis is a roundabout way of referring to something by means of several words instead of naming it directly in a single word or phrase, for example, A special type of stable combinations, known as periphrases, has long attracted the attention of language researchers. In modern linguistics, there are several views on this linguistic phenomenon. One point of view presupposes a broad understanding of periphrasis, where the term is used for almost any descriptive turn that refers to something indirectly. Proponents of a narrow approach, on the other hand, limit the composition of periphrases by emphasizing the leading distinguishing feature of these expressions. According to some researchers, the term periphrase (or periphrasis) is borrowed from the French language. For instance, D. E. Rosenthal and M. A. Telenkova define 163 International scientific journal “Interpretation and researches” Volume 1 issue 6 (52) | ISSN: 2181-4163 | Impact Factor: 8.2 periphrase as a descriptive turn, stating: "An expression that is a descriptive transfer of the meaning of another expression or word."21 In addition, Uzbek linguist Q. Musayev defines periphrasis as a word- combination that is used instead of the word designating an object. For example, in the sentence "My son...has been deprived of what can never be replaced," the periphrasis "what can never be replaced" stands for the word "mother." The concept of such renaming is easily understood by the reader within the given context, the latter being the only code which makes the deciphering of the phrase possible. As Musayev notes, as a result of frequent repetition, a periphrasis may become well established in the language as a synonymous expression for the word generally used to signify the object.22 Periphrasis, as a stylistic device, plays a significant role in shaping the expressive potential of language. It is closely intertwined with various other stylistic devices, such as metaphor, metonymy, irony, and euphemism, as well as with phraseological units. The study of periphrasis involves both semantic and stylistic aspects, highlighting its role not only as a linguistic ornament but also as a culturally marked phenomenon that varies across languages and societies. Periphrases in formal everyday speech are a key part of culture. They show politeness and tradition. However, just like in casual talk, they might confuse people from different backgrounds. Being mindful of this is important when communication crosses cultures. Understanding these cultural language details helps us value diverse expressions better and encourages mutual understanding between cultures. The close relationship between language and culture is emphasized by many scholars. On the one hand, culture is a highly inclusive phenomenon that penetrates into almost all aspects of human life, influencing languages profoundly. On the other hand, language serves not only as a tool for communication and cognition but also as a carrier of culture, through which cultural values, norms, and traditions are fixed, stored, and transmitted across generations. Consequently, the investigation of the relationship between language and culture holds paramount importance in modern linguistics.23 Given this intrinsic link between language and culture, it becomes evident that periphrasis, as a linguistic phenomenon, is deeply rooted in the cultural identity of a socie