LEXICAL-SEMANTICAL AND MENTAL FEATURES OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK PROVERBS WITH THE COMPONENTS "ZOONYMS".

Abstract

This article investigates the lexical-semantic and mental (cognitive-cultural) features of English and Uzbek proverbs containing zoonymic components. Zoonyms (names of animals) play a significant role in paremiology, reflecting national mentality, worldview, moral values, and cultural stereotypes. The study is based on a comparative analysis of selected English and Uzbek proverbs, focusing on semantic motivation, metaphorical transfer, and mental representations associated with animals. The research relies on authoritative paremiological dictionaries and linguistic studies. The results reveal both universal and culture-specific features in the use of zoonyms, demonstrating how language encodes collective experience and cultural cognition.