Sociolinguistic Aspects Of Euphemism Application In English And Uzbek

Abstract

Euphemisms are an essential linguistic phenomenon that regulate communicative relations not only in literary discourse but also in everyday interactions. They help maintain politeness, avoid conflict, and reflect cultural norms within society. This research analyzes euphemisms in Uzbek and English languages, focusing on their socio-cultural, pragmatic, and linguacultural features. The study highlights how euphemisms serve as indicators of social change, cultural identity, and linguistic evolution. Drawing upon works of both Uzbek and international scholars, the research explores euphemisms from sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic, cognitive, and gender perspectives. Comparative analysis shows that English euphemisms often emphasize neutrality and legal or social conventions, while Uzbek euphemisms are deeply influenced by cultural traditions, religion, and values of social harmony. Various stylistic methods of euphemism formation such as metaphor, metonymy, idioms, allusion, irony, and paraphrase are also examined. The findings demonstrate that euphemisms function not only as linguistic substitutes for sensitive or taboo expressions but also as powerful cultural tools for softening communication and preserving dignity in intercultural contexts.