A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF RELIGIOUS COMPONENTS IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH PROVERBS: THE LEXEME "GOD"
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Keywords: Uzbek proverbs, English proverbs, religious lexemes, God, paremiology, cultural worldview, Islamic and Christian values, comparative linguistics, divine authority, dualism.##article.abstract##
Abstract: This paper investigates the presence and role of religious components—specifically the lexeme God—in Uzbek and English proverbs. Using a comparative and semantic-pragmatic approach, the study analyzes thematic classifications of religious sayings in both languages, highlighting the cultural and theological underpinnings that shape these expressions. The research identifies stark contrasts in how divine concepts are encoded linguistically: Uzbek proverbs predominantly reflect Islamic views, emphasizing divine control over personal and societal affairs, while English proverbs—rooted in Christian tradition—often promote individual responsibility and moral dualism. Through statistical and thematic categorization of 349 Uzbek and 268 English religious proverbs, the paper demonstrates how paremiological expressions mirror the spiritual and moral mentalities of different societies. The study concludes that proverbs are a rich source of cultural, religious, and linguistic knowledge and offer critical insight into worldview differences.
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