The Ethnolinguistic Characteristics of English in Uzbek Languages
Regarding the Concept of Time
Sherzod Khalikulovich Djabbarov
a
Jizzakh State Pedagogical University, Jizzakh, Uzbekistan
Keywords: Time Concept, Ethnolinguistic, Ethno-Semantics, Enantiosemy, Linguistic-Cultural Concepts, Experimental
Method, Jowza (April), Javrab, Asad (August), Cognitive Metaphor, Referential Situation, the Semantics of
Time and Aspect.
Abstract: The face of a nation is shaped by the society that inhabits it, including its laws and regulations, national
mentality, ethical and aesthetic requirements, customs, and other factors. Language serves as the primary
means of understanding this complex unity and reflects the individual's way of life within the broader context
of societal norms and values. This article examines the comparative analysis of various ethnic groups' cultural
and linguistic characteristics, time-specific associations, and linguistic structures using phrases and metaphors.
It also highlights how language reflects ethno semantic peculiarities that are conceptually based on metaphors
to express specific cultural meanings.
1 INTRODUCTION
Research in applied linguistics and cognitive
semantics is being carried out at various levels. These
research directions are engaged in the study of
language communication, as well as its practical
application. The fact that Uzbek linguists are engaged
in research on confirmed directions of language
confirms the development of Uzbek linguistics in
harmony with world linguistics.
The study of the practical use of language under
different conditions is an important aspect of
language research. This contributes to the
development of the field of linguistics in our country.
Overall, research in applied linguistics and cognitive
semantics is a valuable asset for the development of
Uzbek language studies.
2 METHODOLOGY
The concept of time is important for every linguistic
culture, as it is a channel of communication in our
understanding and conversations about the existence
of the world (Maslova, 2001:71). According to the
"Philosophical Encyclopedic Dictionary" published
a
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1374-6843
in Russia, time is defined as an attribute of the
continuity and periodicity of material systems and
processes, which represents the general form of
material existence and change in their properties.
Time does not change on its own and does not affect
material systems and processes that do not have
duration or changes (FED, 1989:101). It is for these
reasons that the concept of time is expressed in every
language with its own metaphors. This reveals the
intellectual richness of the concept of time. Although
the concept of time is universal, it differs from other
linguistic concepts by its expression in different
linguistic cultures.
The concept of time has been studied experimentally
in English culture. This process is related to the
movement of objects in the world. In Uzbek
linguistics, the conceptualization of time is influenced
by natural phenomena and religious beliefs. This
concept can be expressed through various cultural
events such as: winter solstice, Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr,
wheat harvest time, acaд экинингни яcaт (second
half of August), жoвзaдa жaврaб ўлгaн ҳуккизим
(April, rain season) and Aзиз мoмo oлти кун қaҳри
кeлca eтти кун (end of February, beginning of
March) (Uzbek proverb).
The linguistic differences in the perception of time
between Western and Eastern cultures are due to
Djabbarov, S.
The Ethnolinguistic Characteristics of English in Uzbek Languages Regarding the Concept of Time.
DOI: 10.5220/0012934900003882
Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 943-946
ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8
Proceedings Copyright © 2024 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda.
943

research on natural phenomena. Furthermore, it is
important to understand the ethnolinguistic
characteristics of time perception and their expression
through phraseology, ethnosemantics, cognitive
metaphors in English and Uzbek languages that are
not genetically related.
English and Uzbek are languages widely used in
practice, and their ethnolinguistic characteristics play
an important role in understanding them. English is
one of the most widely spoken languages in the world,
mainly used in the USA, UK, and UAE. It is widely
used in technical, economic, and scientific fields.
Uzbek, on the other hand, is a language taught in
various subjects in Uzbekistan and other countries. It
is considered to be the main symbol of Uzbek culture
and identity. Uzbek is written in the Arabic alphabet
and has its unique characters. Its grammar is different
from other languages, and its vocabulary includes
terms from Uzbek culture as well as Arabic, Persian,
and Russian languages.
In English culture, the concepts of "time" and
"money" are often associated with each other, while
in Uzbek culture, the concept of "opportunity" is
more commonly used. This difference in cognitive
mapping can lead to different metaphors being used
in each language. For example, the Uzbek metaphor
“Вaқтинг кeтди, тaхтинг кeтти” "time has
passed, the throne has passed" refers to missed
opportunities rather than economic loss. The
formation of cognitive metaphors is closely related to
the culture and way of thinking of each ethnic group.
In conclusion, understanding the meaning and
characteristics of a language requires a
comprehensive study of its ethnolinguistic, linguistic,
cultural, and social aspects. The study of cognitive
metaphors can provide insight into the cultural
background and way of thinking of a particular ethnic
group. Therefore, it is essential to consider the
cultural and social characteristics of a language when
studying its linguistic structure.
The use of language by people living in a certain
region is closely related to their ethnolinguistic
characteristics. This includes the ethical and aesthetic
views, customs and traditions, and the overall
worldview of the people, which are reflected in their
language. Different from literary language, it includes
phraseological units that express meanings that differ
from the literal meaning of words and reflect the
existence of paremiology. The Uzbek language
mentioned above, such as the metaphor “Вaқтинг
кeтди, тaхтинг кeтди” (time has passed, the
throne has passed,) can be an accurate example of this.
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
However, studies have shown that enantiosemy are
present in many languages, including the current era
of the Uzbek literary language. The existence of
enantiosemic words in speech and expressions, as
well as the semantic significance of the ancient
vocabulary of this language, reflects the influence of
its semantic structure. Some researchers criticize the
significance of this phenomenon, claiming that it is
unnecessary, harmful, and provides misleading
information for language use.
The dynamic force of language development
contributes to the improvement of human memory
and facilitates cognitive activity. The development of
language reflects new forms of expression.
In general, the significance of enantiosemy words in
the lexicon is considered from two perspectives,
namely their form and meaning correspondence,
which is evaluated. However, enantiosemy is a
complex phenomenon that is both beneficial and
harmful to language use. Important theoretical issues
in linguistics related to enantiosemy include the
relationship between form and content, the opposition
category as a single mechanism, and ways of
expressing meaning.
The character of a society and its laws, national
mentality, ethical and aesthetic requirements, values
and other factors shape the way people live. Thus,
language is an integral part of a person's identity and
is not separate from their way of life and the social
norms, laws, and cultural traditions of a particular
community.
Enantiosemy, or the relationship between words with
opposite meanings, plays a significant role in the
Uzbek language. For example, the antonyms "қуёш
ботиши билан тун бошланиши ўртасидаги ғир-
шира ёруғ пайт" (the dawn breaks as the sun rises,
but at night darkness falls) and "кеч, кечқурун"
(night, evening) demonstrate the complex nature of
enantiosemy. Compre: Қуёш бoтгaн, лeкин кун ҳaли
ёруғ, ҳaр ёққa oқшoм cукунaти чўзилгaн.
Дaрaхтлaрнинг учлaри acтa қимирлaйди (Oybek,
"Kutlug Kon") (Y. Odilov, 60).
Analyzing a linguistic unit through cognitive
approach can reveal its potential beyond its use in
language and communication. This approach can also
help understand the linguistic characteristics of a
particular community and their cultural norms.
Therefore, studying lexical units from a cognitive-
linguistic perspective can be fruitful.
Furthermore, the intention of the speaker and the
temporal aspect of the situation are closely related to
the modal expressions used, which are influenced by
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the time frame. Differences in modal expressions can
reflect differences in the attitudes and perspectives of
the speaker towards the situation.
The concept of time and aspect semantics is complex
and involves not only simple verbs and verb phrases
but also complex ones such as ex-mayor, husband-to-
be, etc., numerical and numerical phrases (former,
future, most recent, etc.), and the most important
temporal units. The concept of time provides an
opportunity to identify temporal relationships
associated with these concepts. Temporal
relationships serve to indicate semantic
characteristics through nominal units. Various
language systems differ in their methods and forms of
expressing these temporal relationships, as well as in
their ethnopsychological characteristics when
expressing time semantics.
The topic time (Klein 1994): refers to the function of
indicating the time frame of a statement in order to
confirm it.
The viewpoint time, according to Smith (1991), Klein
(1994), and Gosselin (1996), serves to express
functions that depend on the situation being described.
Both linguistic units refer to the speaker and the
situation being discussed. In terms of composition,
the linguistic unit can be an independent indicator of
time.
The concept of time refers to the simple identification
of the time frame of a statement, which can be
achieved through verbs and verb phrases, as well as
complex constructions such as compound nouns (ex-
mayor, husband-to-be, etc.), numerals and adjectives
(former, future, most recent, etc.), and more complex
temporal units. Time concepts allow for the
identification of temporal relations associated with
them. Temporal units serve to provide clarity to
semantic characteristics through the use of linear
units. Various language systems differ in their
methods and forms of expressing these temporal
relations, as well as in their ethnic-specific
characteristics when it comes to expressing time
semantics.
These temporal units provide clarity to the semantic
characteristics of a statement by using linear units.
Different languages have their own methods and
forms of expressing temporal relations, as well as
ethnic-specific characteristics when it comes to
expressing time semantics. Complex temporal
constructions are used to accurately convey the
temporal information associated with an event or
situation. The structure of expressing time is formed
by linguistic units that determine the time frame of a
statement. In English, there are phrases such as "for
good," "for once and for all," "from now on," "hour
after hour," "now and forever," "right away," "right
off," and "right off the bat" that provide temporal
information. In addition, complex temporal
constructions are used to accurately convey
information about events or situations that are
extensive or broad in scope. Examples of these
constructions include phrases like "as often as you
like but for no more than an hour," "evenings at
eight," "every Monday morning at 11:00 a.m.," "for a
few minutes before dinner this evening," "not more
than three times per month in the winter and four
times a month otherwise," and "sometimes when the
wind comes from the north".
The occurrence that happens during a certain period
of time can vary in different situations and the
meaning of this phenomenon may change. The use of
time-dependent variables and other temporal units
differ depending on the context.
The conceptualization of time in each culture is
influenced by the natural conditions, social structure,
ethical values, and development of its civilization, as
well as specific ethnic characteristics. In addition, the
process of conceptualizing time is related to the
history of cultural concepts. During this process, the
concepts of time shape the life patterns and beliefs of
individuals, contribute to learning and synthesizing
natural phenomena, establish cultural attitudes
towards nature and modify religious views related to
nature. As a result, each nation or people's
understanding of time has developed in various ways
according to their cultural perspective and these
concepts are reflected in their language as cultural
expressions.
4 CONCLUSION
When analyzed, the concept of time is a universal
metaphor. Generally, the conceptual metaphor of
time comes from the linguistic expressions that reflect
people's natural experiences. From a philosophical
perspective, as well as from a linguistic and cognitive
science perspective, it refers to the associated content
of empirical experiences. Therefore, "time" as a
subject of communication has both universal
importance and relevance to specific cultural contexts.
Taking these aspects into account, it becomes clear
that time conceptual metaphors have both universal
and national significance.
Linguistic metaphors are created in relation to various
socio-economic conditions. The environment, society,
culture, communicative situations or individual
experience play an important role in shaping them. As
time passes, the context and personal stories of
The Ethnolinguistic Characteristics of English in Uzbek Languages Regarding the Concept of Time
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individuals change, which leads to a transformation
of metaphors throughout history. The various types of
metaphors we analyze have different effects on our
lives, causing both concerns and benefits.
A conversation that takes place over time can reveal
the meaning of cultural experiences, personal
experiences, and values passed down from generation
to generation. These aspects can be expressed through
metaphors that are useful in understanding the
concept of time. The conceptual metaphor of time
operates in a cognitive system that reflects the
integration of experiences of a particular culture and
is related to empirical experiences. This includes
framing, metonymy, and metaphorical expressions
that help to identify and clarify concepts, as well as
conventionalization and using personal
characteristics within oneself.
The importance of different cognitive processes
varies from individual to individual in terms of their
universality. In different times, cultures and
subcultures can benefit from them at varying degrees.
This has led to the use of metaphors related to "time"
by economic leaders. The universality and variability
of the metaphor related to time in world languages
and cultures, as well as the changing nature of
individual languages and cultures, are reflected in
their linguistic expressions.
In scientific theories that differentiate conceptual
concepts, discussing metaphors is related to
philosophical perspectives. This results in accepting
and understanding the world from the point of view
of individuals and has a relationship with the desire
to communicate with reasoning ability.
Understanding concepts in daily life works in a time-
dependent order. This cognitive process gives the
ability to limit the concept of "time" for
conceptualization by event managers.
Time can be represented by various cultural models
such as national traditions, religious customs,
economic events, and natural phenomena that occur
in a particular culture. In addition, time-related
cultural models provide significant symbolic
structures and important meanings. Likewise, cross-
cultural models related to time ensure the
establishment of intercultural connections and hold
great importance.
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