Berdiyeva Zilola Olimovna 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15166751
Google scholar: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=ru&as_sdt=0%2C5&q=%22A+COMPARATIVE+STUDY+OF+ENGLISH+AND+UZBEK+BODY+METAPHORS%22&btnG=
Zenodo community: https://zenodo.org/records/15166751
Nordic_press journal: https://research.nordicuniversity.org/index.php/nordic/article/view/2237
MAQOLANI YUKLAB OLISH
SERTIFIKATNI YUKLAB OLISH
REVIEW:
This paper presents a clear and intellectually stimulating comparative study of body-based metaphors in English and Uzbek, contributing meaningfully to the fields of cognitive linguistics and cross-cultural communication. The author analyzes how body parts such as the heart, head, hands, liver, and eyes are used metaphorically in both languages to express abstract concepts such as emotions, intelligence, morality, and affection.
The research is grounded in Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT), developed by Lakoff and Johnson, and employs a qualitative comparative linguistic methodology. The author skillfully combines cultural linguistics with cognitive perspectives, providing a rich explanation of how metaphors are shaped by both shared human embodiment and culture-specific values.
The discussion on the Uzbek metaphorical use of the liver ("jigar") as a symbol of affection and emotional closeness is particularly insightful and highlights the uniqueness of metaphorical thinking across cultures. Comparisons such as “Ko‘ngli toza” (pure-hearted) in Uzbek and “He has a big heart” in English effectively demonstrate the balance of universality and cultural specificity in metaphor usage.
The paper also offers a thoughtful analysis of how metaphors function in proverbs, idioms, and traditional expressions. By categorizing metaphorical expressions based on body parts and analyzing their frequency and semantic range, the study provides a strong empirical foundation. The implications for language learning, translation, and cultural understanding are well-noted, making the research highly relevant beyond academic linguistics.
Strengths:
Excellent integration of theory (CMT) and practical examples
Strong cross-cultural insights
Clear structure: abstract, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion
Relevance to applied linguistics, education, and intercultural studies
Suggestions for Improvement:
Inclusion of more real-life examples from spoken discourse or corpora could enhance the empirical value
A brief reflection on how such metaphor differences may impact second language acquisition would be useful
Minor grammatical and stylistic revisions could further improve the fluency of the text
Conclusion
This is a well-researched, original, and culturally insightful paper that deepens our understanding of how language, culture, and cognition intersect. It is recommended for presentation and publication in linguistics conferences and journals focused on metaphor studies, cognitive linguistics, or intercultural communication.
