LINGUO-COGNITIVE AND LINGUO-CULTURAL FEATURES OF THE CONCEPT OF “WATER” IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

Abstract

 This article comparatively analyzes the linguo-cognitive and linguo-cultural features of the concept of “water” in the English and Uzbek languages. As one of the most ancient and universal concepts in human cognition, the concept of “water” embodies multiple layers of meaning, including life, purity, blessing, renewal, and danger. The study examines the theoretical foundations of the concept, its nominative-communicative field, lexical and phraseological verbalizers, national-cultural characteristics, as well as similarities and differences in its representation in English and Uzbek. The findings reveal that the concept of “water” possesses a common cognitive core in both languages; however, distinct semantic and pragmatic differences emerge in its peripheral layers under the influence of national culture, historical experience, and social consciousness.