THE ROLE OF CULTURAL CONTEXT IN SHAPING POLYSEMY OF IDIOMS

Аннотация

This article explores the role of cultural context in shaping the polysemy of idioms in English, Russian, and Uzbek. Idioms are viewed as culturally marked linguistic units whose meanings extend beyond literal interpretation. The study demonstrates that while idiomatic polysemy develops through universal cognitive mechanisms, such as metaphorical extension and semantic shift, its specific manifestations are determined by cultural traditions, historical experiences, and symbolic codes. The comparative analysis highlights that English idioms often reflect maritime and biblical heritage, Russian idioms embody folklore and endurance, while Uzbek idioms emphasize moral values and natural symbolism. The findings contribute to cultural linguistics by showing how idioms function as carriers of cultural information and how their polysemy affects cross-cultural communication, translation, and language teaching.