"ZAMONAVIY TILSHUNOSLIK VA TARJIMASHUNOSLIKNING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI"
mavzusidagi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy anjuman
319
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EUPHEMISMS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK
Ulugberdieva Sarviniso Ubaydullaevna
Student, 405A group,
Department of English language and literature
The National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek
sarvinisoulugberdiyeva2004@gmail.com
Annotation:
This article analyzes euphemisms in English and Uzbek,
examining their linguistic structures, functions, and cultural influences. It categorizes
them by theme and explores how cultural, religious, and social factors shape their use,
enhancing cross-cultural communication and politeness strategies.
Keywords:
Euphemisms, linguistic structures, cultural influences, politeness
strategies, cross-cultural communication, social factors, religious influence, language
comparison.
Аннотация:
В этой работе анализируются эвфемизмы в английском и
узбекском языках, рассматриваются их лингвистические структуры, функции и
культурное влияние. Они классифицируются по темам, а также исследуется, как
культурные, религиозные и социальные факторы формируют их использование,
способствуя межкультурной коммуникации и стратегиям вежливости.
Ключевые слова:
Эвфемизмы
,
лингвистические структуры, культурное
влияние,
стратегии вежливости,
межкультурная коммуникация,
социальные
факторы,
религиозное влияние,
сравнение языков.
Annotatsiya:
Ushbu maqola ingliz va o’zbek tillaridagi evfemizmlarni tahlil
qilinadi, ularning lingvistik tuzilishi, funksiyalari va madaniy ta’sirini o’rganiladi.
Ularni mavzular bo’yicha tasniflaydi hamda madaniy, diniy va ijtimoiy omillar
ularning qo’llanilishiga qanday ta’sir qilishini tadqiq qiladi, bu esa madaniyatlararo
muloqot va odob-axloq strategiyalarini rivojlantirishga yordam beradi.
Kalit so‘zlar:
Evfemizmlar, lingvistik tuzilish, madaniy ta’sir, odob-axloq
strategiyalari, madaniyatlararo muloqot, ijtimoiy omillar, diniy ta’sir, til taqqoslanishi.
Euphemisms are an essential linguistic tool used to replace words or phrases that
might be considered harsh, impolite, or socially inappropriate. Every language employs
euphemisms to soften expressions related to death, bodily functions, illness, and social
taboos. However, the structure, formation, and cultural impact of euphemisms vary
across different languages due to historical, social, and religious influences.
This research paper aims to compare the use of euphemisms in English and
Uzbek, highlighting their similarities and differences. The study focuses on major
categories of euphemisms, including death, bodily functions, disabilities, and social
status, while also exploring the cultural factors that influence their usage.
"ZAMONAVIY TILSHUNOSLIK VA TARJIMASHUNOSLIKNING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI"
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320
Understanding these differences will help enhance cross-cultural communication and
linguistic awareness.
The word
“Euphemism”
originates from the Greek word
euphēmismos
, meaning
“to speak well”
. Euphemisms are primarily used to:
o
Avoid Offensiveness – People use euphemisms to discuss sensitive topics without
causing discomfort.
o
Maintains Politeness – Many societies value indirect and respectful language.
o
Hide Social or Political Realities – Governments and media sometimes use
euphemisms to downplay negative events (e.g., “collateral damage” instead of “civilian
casualties”).
Allan and Burridge (1991) classify euphemisms into various types, including:
1.
Phonetic modifications (
dang it
instead of
damn it
),
2.
Word substitutions (
pass away
instead of
die
),
3.
Metaphors (
kick the bucket for die
),
4.
Borrowed words (e.g.,
toilet from French toilette
),
5.
Understatements (
let go
instead of
fired
). [1:257]
These classifications help us analyze how euphemisms function in different
languages, including English and Uzbek.
Euphemisms in English and Uzbek:
1. Death-Related Euphemisms
Death is a universal yet sensitive topic, leading to the use of euphemisms in
nearly all languages. In English, common death-related euphemisms include:
Pass away/ depart/ rest in peace/ meet one’s maker
Similarly, in Uzbek,
death
is expressed using euphemisms such as:
Olamdan o‘tmoq (“to leave this world”)
Dunyo bilan vidolashmoq (“to say goodbye to the world”)
Hayotdan ko‘z yumdi (“to close one's eyes to life”)
[2:165]
Both English and Uzbek use indirect, poetic expressions to make death sound
less harsh. However, Uzbek euphemisms often have religious undertones, reflecting
the Islamic belief in an afterlife. The phrase “
Allohning huzuriga ketmoq
” (“
to go to
the presence of Allah
”) is commonly used in Uzbek but has no direct equivalent in
English.
2. Euphemisms for bodily functions and taboos
Bodily functions are another area where euphemisms play a crucial role. In
English, words related to excretion, sex, and bodily processes are often replaced with
softer terms. Examples include:
Go to the restroom (instead of urinate)/ answer nature’s call/ lady’s room / Men’s
room
Similarly, Uzbek employs polite expressions such as:
"ZAMONAVIY TILSHUNOSLIK VA TARJIMASHUNOSLIKNING DOLZARB MUAMMOLARI"
mavzusidagi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy anjuman
321
Hojatga chiqmoq (“to attend to one's needs”)/ tabiiy ehtiyojni qondirmoq (“to satisfy
a natural need”)
Uzbek euphemisms for bodily functions are often more indirect and poetic than
their English counterparts, reflecting the society’s preference for modesty and
discretion.
3. Social Status and Profession Euphemisms
Both English and Uzbek replace negative or low-status job titles with more
dignified alternatives. For example:
We face in both English and Uzbek languages, for instance,
sanitation worker
(instead of
garbage collector
);
Obodonlashtirish xodimi
(instead of
supuruvchi
);
Custodian
(instead of
janitor
);
Binoni tozalovchi
(instead of
farrosh
);
Domestic worker
(instead of
maid
). [5:211]
This practice helps maintain respect for people working in these fields while
reducing social stigma.
4. Euphemisms for disability and illness
Disabilities and illnesses are often discussed using euphemisms to avoid
offending individuals. In English, common examples include:
Visually impaired (instead of blind)/ hearing impaired (instead of deaf)/ mentally
challenged (instead of mentally retarded)
We also use in Uzbek and have similar expressions, such as:
Ko’zi ojiz
(instead of
ko’r
)/
eshitish qobiliyati cheklangan
(instead of
kar
)/
aqliy zaif
(instead of
aqli past
).
In both languages, euphemisms help reduce discrimination and encourage
respectful communication.
Moreover, we see cultural Influence on euphemisms. Euphemisms are shaped
by cultural norms, religious beliefs, and historical experiences. The following cultural
factors influence euphemisms in English Uzbek:
1. Influence of Religion
As for English: English euphemisms reflect Christian influences but are also
shaped by secularism and political correctness. For example, religious euphemisms like
“
Heaven has gained an angel
” are used to comfort mourners. [4:217]
It is described in Uzbek language: Islamic teachings strongly influence Uzbek
euphemisms. Many expressions reference Allah (
Allohning marhamati bilan
– “
by
Allah’s mercy
”).
2. Impact of Social Norms
In terms of English language: Western societies emphasize individualism and
directness, so English euphemisms are often functional rather than overly poetic.
It is used in Uzbek language: Uzbek culture values collectivism and politeness,
leading to more indirect and respectful euphemisms.
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3. Political and Social Sensitivities
When it is given in English language: Political correctness has led to the rise of
new euphemisms (such as,
differently abled
instead of
disabled
). [3:241]
Regarding with Uzbek language - social hierarchy influences the way people use
euphemisms, particularly when discussing elders and authority figures.
Euphemisms in English and Uzbek serve the same fundamental purpose - to
soften expressions and maintain social harmony. However, their formation and usage
differ due to cultural, historical, and religious influences. While English euphemisms
are often shaped by political correctness and modern secularism, Uzbek euphemisms
reflect Islamic values and traditional social norms. Understanding these differences
enhances cross-cultural communication and provides insight into how language
evolves to reflect societal values. Future research could examine the impact of
globalization on the development of new euphemisms in both languages.
REFERENCES
1.
Allan, K. & Burridge, K. Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as Shield and
Weapon. Oxford University Press. 1991.
2.
Burridge, K. Euphemism and Language Change: The Sixth and Seventh Ages.
Cambridge University Press. 2012.
3.
Rawson, H. A Dictionary of Euphemisms and Other Doubletalk. Crown Publishers.
1981.
4.
Trudgill, P. Sociolinguistics: An Introduction to Language and Society. Penguin
Books. 2000.
5.
Wardhaugh, R. An Introduction to Sociolinguistics. Wiley-Blackwell. 2010.
