THE EXPRESSION OF SOMATIC UNITS IN RIDDLES OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

This study explores the use of somatic units in English and Uzbek riddles from cognitive and linguocultural perspectives. Somatic units, referring to parts of the human body, function as a productive source of metaphorical meaning in folklore discourse. Riddles employ indirect description and figurative language to represent objects and concepts, often relying on bodily imagery. The analysis focuses on how somatic lexemes such as “head,” “eye,” and “hand” contribute to meaning construction. The findings reveal that somatic units are grounded in universal embodied cognition, while their interpretation reflects culture-specific features. The study highlights the role of somatic imagery in enhancing expressiveness, conceptualization, and cultural representation in riddles.