CROSS-CULTURAL VARIATIONS OF ANIMAL METAPHORS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK
Keywords:
Animal metaphors; Cross-cultural phraseology; English; Uzbek; idioms; cognitive semantics; conceptual metaphorAbstract
Animal metaphors pervade the idiomatic and proverbial expressions of many languages, reflecting shared human concerns as well as unique cultural perspectives. This article presents a comparative analysis of animal-based metaphors in English and Uzbek, drawing on cognitive semantics and contrastive phraseology. We classify idiomatic animal expressions into semantic domains (personality traits, emotions, social roles, physical actions, etc.) and examine how each language maps human experiences onto animal imagery. The study highlights both common patterns (e.g. fox as cunning, lion as courageous) and divergent conceptualizations (e.g. differing valences of “fox” metaphors, unique animals such as camel in Uzbek). It also considers the pragmatic use of these idioms across registers. Our findings reinforce that animal metaphors function as cultural signposts and cognitive tools: they encapsulate collective values and worldviews, serving as windows into each society’s mindset. Understanding these cross-cultural variations enriches our knowledge of metaphorical thinking and has practical implications for translation and intercultural communication.
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