THE ROLE OF CONTEXT IN TRANSLATING ENGLISH POLYSEMANTIC WORDS INTO UZBEK

Abstract

Translating polysemantic words—words that carry multiple meanings depending on their use—from English into Uzbek presents a complex and nuanced challenge for translators. This complexity arises from differences not only in the semantic range of words but also in the linguistic, cultural, and syntactic frameworks of the two languages. This article explores how various types of context—lexical, grammatical, situational, and cultural—critically influence the process of selecting the correct meaning and equivalent in Uzbek translation. Through an in-depth analysis, the study demonstrates that a failure to adequately consider context often leads to ambiguity, misinterpretation, and loss of intended meaning. Drawing on specific examples of commonly encountered polysemantic English words, the article highlights the importance of a contextual approach that integrates linguistic knowledge with cultural sensitivity. Moreover, it provides practical translation strategies to assist translators in overcoming challenges posed by polysemy. By improving the understanding of the role of context, this research contributes to enhancing the quality and accuracy of English-Uzbek translation and promotes more effective cross-cultural communication. The findings underscore the importance of ongoing scholarly attention to polysemy in translation studies, particularly in under-researched language pairs such as English and Uzbek.