COGNITIVE-PRAGMATIC AND LINGUOCULTURAL FEATURES OF PARALINGUISTIC MEANS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

The present study investigates the cognitive-pragmatic and linguocultural characteristics of paralinguistic means in English and Uzbek languages. Modern linguistic research increasingly recognizes that communication extends beyond verbal structures and encompasses a wide range of vocal and non-vocal semiotic resources. Paralinguistic means, including intonation, pitch, tempo, pauses, laughter, voice quality, facial expressions, gestures, and bodily movements, constitute an integral component of communicative behavior. Employing cognitive-linguistic, pragmatic, and linguocultural approaches, this article explores how paralinguistic means contribute to the construction of meaning, the expression of emotions, and the realization of communicative intentions in English and Uzbek discourse. The study reveals that while certain paralinguistic phenomena demonstrate universal cognitive foundations, their pragmatic functions and cultural interpretations are largely shaped by sociocultural norms and ethnolinguistic traditions. The findings contribute to contemporary research in cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis, pragmatics, and intercultural communication.