CONCEPTUAL AND TRANSLATIONAL CHALLENGES OF "HAPPINESS" IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

This study investigates the linguistic and cultural nuances of the concept of "happiness" in English and "baxt" in Uzbek. While often treated as direct equivalents in bilingual dictionaries, these terms possess distinct etymological roots and cultural connotations. This research employs a comparative linguacultural approach to identify semantic gaps. The findings reveal that English happiness is predominantly individualistic and emotion-based, whereas Uzbek baxt is deeply rooted in collectivism, destiny, and social status. These differences pose significant challenges for translators, requiring semantic modulation and cultural adaptation.