LINGUOCULTURAL PECULIARITIES OF HUMOR IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK

Abstract

This comparative study examines how humor is linguistically and culturally manifested in English and Uzbek. Drawing on recent research, we find that both languages utilize similar devices such as irony, satire, and wordplay to generate humor. However, the cultural contexts shape these expressions differently. English humor often relies on sarcasm, understatement, and explicit wordplay to reflect an individualistic ethos, whereas Uzbek humor tends to be more indirect, incorporating proverbs, metaphorical language, and hyperbole in keeping with a collectivist cultural framework. Shared themes (e.g. social norms, family) are communicated via distinct linguistic forms in each language. The findings underscore that what is humorous in one culture may not elicit the same effect in another, highlighting the need to consider both language and culture in humor analysis. This research contributes to linguocultural studies by detailing genre-specific differences, offering implications for translation and intercultural communication.