Specific Linguistic and Linguocultural Features of Phraseological Units with Zoonym Components (Zoophraseologisms)

Abstract

This study explores the linguistic and linguocultural specificity of phraseological units containing zoonym components, here termed zoophraseologisms. It analyzes their semantic structure, metaphorical transference mechanisms, and pragmatic functions, demonstrating how zoonyms serve as a productive source of idiomatic meaning through the prototypical properties assigned to animals. The linguocultural analysis reveals that zoophraseologisms encode national-cultural connotations, reflecting the Uzbek people’s worldview, value system, and cultural codes. By examining stereotypes, myths, and ethical norms embedded in these units, the research shows that zoophraseologisms function as carriers of ethnocultural memory. A comparative glance highlights both universal zoomorphic metaphors and ethnospecific interpretations unique to Uzbek linguoculture, underscoring the deep interconnection between language, cognition, and culture.