THE CONCEPT OF "FRIENDSHIP" IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK: A LINGUOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

This article explores the concept of “friendship” in English and Uzbek from a linguocultural perspective, aiming to reveal how language reflects culturally embedded perceptions of social relationships. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of semantic structures, etymological development, phraseological units, proverbs, and discourse patterns associated with the notion of friendship in both languages. Through comparative analysis, the research identifies both universal and culture-specific features of the concept. In English, friendship is represented as a flexible and broad social category encompassing relationships that range from informal acquaintances to emotionally close bonds. In contrast, the Uzbek concept of do‘stlik is characterized by a more value-oriented and ethically grounded interpretation, emphasizing loyalty, sincerity, mutual support, and trust as core components. Linguistic evidence drawn from idioms, proverbs, and contextual usage demonstrates that while both cultures regard friendship as a fundamental moral and social value, they prioritize different aspects of interpersonal relations in accordance with their cultural worldviews. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of intercultural communication, conceptual linguistics, and translation studies by highlighting how culturally specific meanings are encoded and transmitted through language.