THE SEMANTIC REPRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT “BEAUTY” IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE CULTURE

Abstract

The concept of beauty has always occupied a central place in human cognition, culture, and language. It represents not only aesthetic perception but also moral values, social ideals, and cultural norms shaped over centuries. The present article aims to investigate the semantic representation of the concept “beauty” in Uzbek and English language cultures from a cognitive, cultural, and comparative linguistic perspective. The study is grounded in major theoretical approaches, including Conceptual Metaphor Theory, semiotics, and cultural semantics. The research methodology involves conceptual analysis, semantic interpretation, and comparative examination of metaphorical and evaluative linguistic units related to beauty in both languages. The findings demonstrate that while beauty functions as a universal human concept, its linguistic realization differs significantly across cultures. In Uzbek language culture, beauty is strongly associated with inner morality, modesty, and harmony with nature, whereas in English language culture greater emphasis is placed on visual attractiveness, individuality, and aesthetic perception. The article concludes that national worldview and cultural experience play a decisive role in shaping the semantic structure of the concept “beauty”.