Intercultural idiomatic expression in German and Uzbek: a comparative study

Abstract

Idioms represent a special layer of language and mirror culturally and mentally oriented modes of society. The present comparative study focuses on idioms in German and Uzbek, two linguistically and culturally quite different languages to investigate the intersection of metaphor, culture, and cognition. Based on the Cultural Linguistics and Conceptual Metaphor Theory, the analysis utilizes over 100 idioms in dictionaries, literature, and speech databases. The idioms are organized in thematic groups (body parts, animals, colors, social behavior, and culturally specific references) and examined in terms of structure, figurative patterns, and cultural conceptualizations. Even though both languages use the exact domains of metaphors, like anatomy and emotions, the symbols have very different meanings. The German idioms emphasis individual accountability, abstract thinking, and machine-like or historical metaphors. Uzbek expressions, in contrast, are oriented to social responsibility, sentimental colouring, and oral tradition collectivism. The problems of translating non-equivalent idioms are also discussed, and the strategies suggested in the study include paraphrasing, functional equivalents, and adaptation to the culture. This study advances phraseology, translation studies, and intercultural communication by demonstrating that idioms represent cultural worldviews and contribute to cross-cultural communication.