COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF GENDERED METAPHORICAL MODELS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK: A COGNITIVE AND CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE

This study explores the cognitive and cross-cultural dimensions of gendered metaphorical models in English and Uzbek linguistic cultures, using textual evidence from classical and modern literature. Operating within the framework of Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) pioneered by Lakoff and Johnson, the research examines how gender roles, traits, and hierarchies are mentally structured and linguistically manifested in both genetically and structurally distinct languages. By analyzing literary corpora—including works by William Shakespeare, Charlotte Brontë, Abdulla Qodiriy, and Abdulhamid Cho‘lpon—the paper uncovers both universal cognitive baselines and culturally specific deviations. The findings reveal that while English literary metaphors increasingly reflect egalitarian shifts and individualistic values, Uzbek metaphorical models remain deeply rooted in patriarchal structures, kinship dynamics, and Islamic cultural ethics. This comparative analysis sheds light on the interplay between language, literature, cognition, and societal evolution.