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LEXICAL BORROWINGS COMPARISON IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH
Nasirova Khurshedabonu Sharof kizi
Samarkand region, Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages,
Faculty of English Philology and Translation Studies,
Student of English Philology and Language Teaching
+998915596040
nasirovaxurshedabonu5@gmail.com
Abstract:
This article examines the phenomenon of lexical borrowings in Uzbek and English,
highlighting the historical and cultural contexts that have influenced the integration of foreign
words into both languages. By analyzing various sources of borrowings, including technological
advances, globalization, and cultural exchange, the article offers insights into how such
borrowings reflect the dynamic nature of language and the interplay between different cultures. It
also explores phonological adaptations and semantic shifts resulting from the integration of
borrowed terms, providing concrete examples from both languages.
Keywords:
Lexical Borrowing, Uzbek Language, English Language, Language Contact,
Cultural Exchange, Phonological Adaptation, Semantic Shift, Globalization, Language Change,
Sociolinguistics
INTRODUCTION
Uzbek language has been significantly influenced by various languages throughout its history.
The primary source languages for Uzbek loanwords include:
• Arabic: Primarily through Islam, Arabic has contributed a large number of words, especially in
the fields of religion, law, scholarship, and abstract concepts.
• Examples: kitob (book), maktab (school), ilm (knowledge), adolat (justice), vaqt (time),
sabab (reason), natija (result), hayot (life), dunyo (world), inson (human being), davlat (state).
• Persian (Tajik): As a geographically and culturally close language, Persian has heavily
influenced Uzbek vocabulary, particularly in literature, poetry, administration, and everyday life.
• Examples: shahar (city), bozor (market), daftar (notebook), daraxt (tree), devor (wall), rang
(color), oyna (mirror), pardak (curtain), xursand (happy), ozod (free), mehmon (guest), bog'
(garden), do'st (friend), nom (name).
• Russian: During the Soviet era, Russian became the dominant language of administration,
education, and technology, resulting in a significant influx of Russian loanwords into Uzbek.
• Examples: telefon (telephone), kompyuter (computer), traktor (tractor), radio (radio), bank
(bank), gazeta (newspaper), student (student), doktor (doctor), professor (professor), avia
(aviation), televizor (television), sotsializm (socialism), kommunizm (communism), institut
(institute).
• More Recent Influences (English): With globalization and the increasing prominence of
English, Uzbek is now borrowing words directly from English, often through Russian as an
intermediary.
• Examples: menedjer (manager), dizayn (design), biznes (business), marketing (marketing),
internet (internet), onlayn (online), brend (brand). These words are often less assimilated and
may retain their original pronunciation (or a Russian-influenced pronunciation).
• Other Influences: Some borrowings are also present from Turkic cognates and other European
languages, typically through Russian or Persian.
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• Shift in Source Languages: The primary source language has shifted from Arabic and Persian
to Russian, and now increasingly to English. This reflects changes in political, economic, and
cultural power.
• Semantic Domains: Early borrowings tended to be related to religion, law, and literature, while
more recent borrowings relate to technology, administration, and business.
• Assimilation: Older borrowings are generally well-integrated into the Uzbek language system,
whereas newer borrowings (especially from English) often retain their foreign pronunciation and
spelling.
• Lexical Replacement: Borrowed words sometimes replace existing Uzbek words, while in
other cases, they coexist with native terms, often with subtle differences in meaning or nuance.
English, renowned for its openness to borrowing, has absorbed vocabulary from a vast array of
languages throughout its history. Major source languages for English loanwords include:
• French: The Norman Conquest in 1066 had a profound impact on English vocabulary, leading
to the adoption of a large number of words from French, especially in law, government, cuisine,
and fashion.
• Examples: government, justice, parliament, court, cuisine, restaurant, fashion, art, ballet,
rendezvous, naive, elite, genre, machine.
• Latin: Latin has exerted a strong influence on English, both directly and through French,
contributing vocabulary to science, law, medicine, and education.
• Examples: science, medicine, legal, education, data, formula, agenda, via, status, species,
genius, radius.
• Greek: Ancient Greek has provided English with many words, particularly in philosophy,
science, and mathematics.
• Examples: philosophy, mathematics, psychology, biology, chemistry, democracy, theatre,
academy, analysis, thesis, hypothesis.
• German: While less extensive than the influence of French and Latin, German has contributed
words related to philosophy, psychology, and military affairs.
• Examples: kindergarten, angst, blitz, rucksack, leitmotif, delicatessen.
• Italian: Italian has enriched English vocabulary, particularly in music, art, and food.
• Examples: opera, piano, concerto, pizza, spaghetti, graffiti, casino.
• Spanish: Spanish has contributed words mainly related to the Americas, agriculture, and
cowboy culture.
• Examples: tomato, potato, chocolate, vanilla, salsa, taco, guerrilla, rodeo, mesa.
• Asian Languages: In recent times, English has borrowed words from Asian languages like
Japanese and Chinese, particularly in the realms of food, martial arts, and technology.
• Examples: sushi, tsunami, karaoke, origami, zen, feng shui, typhoon.
• Other Influences: Numerous other languages have contributed smaller numbers of loanwords
to English, reflecting the diverse interactions and influences that have shaped the language.
Key Trends in English Borrowings:
• Diverse Source Languages: English has drawn vocabulary from a vast and geographically
diverse range of languages.
• Semantic Domains: Borrowings cover a broad spectrum of semantic fields, reflecting
England's historical position as a center of trade, colonialism, and cultural exchange.
• Adaptation: English tends to adapt borrowed words phonetically and grammatically to fit its
existing system, although the degree of adaptation varies depending on the source language and
the time of borrowing.
• Semantic Shift: The meanings of some borrowed words have shifted over time, sometimes
diverging significantly from their original meanings in the source language.
• Coexistence: English often retains native terms alongside borrowed terms, creating synonyms
that may have subtle differences in connotation or usage.
Comparison and Contrasts:
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• Source Language Dominance: Arabic, Persian, and Russian have been the dominant source
languages for Uzbek borrowings, reflecting historical and political factors. In contrast, English
has been influenced by a wider range of languages, with French, Latin, and Greek being
particularly significant.
• Semantic Domains: While both languages have borrowed words related to technology and
administration, English has a stronger representation of borrowings in the arts, sciences, and
humanities, reflecting its role as a language of scholarship and culture.
• Assimilation: English often adapts loanwords to its existing phonetic and grammatical patterns,
while Uzbek, particularly with more recent borrowings, tends to transliterate words more directly
from Russian or English.
• Global Influence: English, as a global language, is now a significant source of loanwords for
many other languages, including Uzbek. The influence is significantly greater than the reverse.
This comparison, while not exhaustive, provides a framework for understanding the patterns and
processes involved in lexical borrowing in Uzbek and English. A more comprehensive analysis
of 1000 words would provide a richer and more nuanced picture of these linguistic dynamics.
The patterns observed reflect both the internal structures of the languages themselves and the
socio-historical forces that have shaped them.
CONCLUSION
A comparative analysis of lexical borrowings in Uzbek and English reveals distinct historical
and cultural influences shaping each language. English, enriched by Latin, Greek, and French,
demonstrates a long history of incorporating terminology from diverse fields, reflecting its global
reach. Uzbek, heavily influenced by Arabic, Persian, and Russian, exhibits a linguistic landscape
sculpted by trade routes, empires, and Soviet modernization. While both languages readily
assimilate foreign words, the semantic fields and assimilation patterns differ. English borrowings
often pertain to scientific, technological, and cultural innovations, undergoing varying degrees of
phonetic adaptation. Uzbek borrowings, particularly from Russian, frequently involve
administrative, technological, and everyday terms, often exhibiting more direct transliteration.
Examining borrowing trends sheds light on the evolving cultural and political relationships each
language has fostered, providing insights into the dynamic interplay between language and
societal change. Further research, employing larger datasets and diachronic analyses, would
enrich our understanding of the complex processes driving lexical borrowing and language
evolution in both Uzbek and English.
REFERENCES:
1. Aronin, L., & Hufeisen, B. (Eds.). (2009). The exploration of multilingualism. John
Benjamins Publishing Company.
2. Crystal, D. (2003). English as a global language (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
3. Haugen, E. (1950). The analysis of linguistic borrowing. Language, 26(2), 210-231.
4. Mesthrie, R. (Ed.). (2011). Concise encyclopedia of sociolinguistics. Elsevier.
5. Winford, D. (2003). An introduction to contact linguistics. Blackwell Publishing.
