CRITERIA OF SYNONYM IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

CRITERIA OF SYNONYM IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES

Usmonova Mohinbonu

MA Student of Alisher Navo’i

Tashkent State University of the

Uzbek Language and Literature

Tel: +998906677737

Abstract

This article deals with the various aspects of semantic similarity between synonyms in English and Uzbek language, including core meaning, connotation, register, specificity, and idiomatic expressions. It is outlined that a definition of the term “synonym” provides for any objective criterion of similarity or sameness of meaning as far as it is based on the linguistic intuition of the scholars.

Key words: synonyms, implication, connotation, denotation, denotative components, connotations, interchangeability

Introduction. Many scholars defined synonyms as words conveying the same notion but differing either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics. In "Webster's Dictionary of Synonyms" its authors used the semantic criterion along with the criterion of interchangeability, which we may see from the definition.

A synonym is one of two or more words which have the same or nearly the same essential (denotational) meaning. It is not a matter of mere likeness in meaning, but a likeness in denotation which may be expressed in its definition. The definition must indicate the part of speech and the relations of the ideas involved in a term's meaning.

Synonyms, therefore, are only such words as may be defined wholly or almost wholly in the same terms. Usually, they are distinguished from one another by an added implication or connotation, or may differ in their idiomatic use or in their implication.

The problem of synonymy is treated differently by Russian and foreign scientists. Among numerous definitions of the term in our linguistics the most comprehensive and full one is suggested by I.V. Arnold: "Synonyms - are two or more words of the same meaning, belonging to the same part of speech, possessing one or more identical meaning, interchangeable at least in some contexts without any considerable alteration in denotation meaning, but differing in morphemic composition, phonemic shape, shades of meaning, connotation, affective value, style, emotional coloring and valence peculiar to one of the elements in a synonymic group."

Literary review. The English word-stock is extremely rich in synonyms, which can be largely accounted for by abundant borrowing. The synonymic resources of a language tend to form certain characteristic and fairly consistent patterns. Synonyms in English are organized according to 2 basic principles. One of them involves double, the other a triple scale. Smell, scent, odor, aroma all denote a property of a thing that makes it perceptible to the olfactory sense. Smell not only is the most general of these terms but tends to be the most colorless. It is the appropriate word when merely a sensation is indicated and no hint or its source, quality or character is necessary. The outstanding Russian philologist A.I. Smirnitsky suggested the classification of synonyms into 3 types:

1. Ideographic synonyms - words conveying the same notion but differing in shades of meaning.

2. Stylistic synonyms, differ not so much in denoational as in emotive value or stylistic sphere of application, words differing only in stylistic characteristics.

3. Absolute (perfect, complete) - words coinciding in all their shades of meaning and in all their stylistic characteristics. Academician V.V. Vinogradov established the following classification of synonyms: ideographic, stylistic, ideographic-stylistic, contextual, absolute (total).

In general, it may be said that understand refers to the result of a mental process, comprehend to the mental process of arriving at such a result; thus one may come to understand a person although one has had difficulty in comprehending his motives and his peculiarities; one may be unable to comprehend a poem, no matter how clearly one understands every sentence in it. Sentence examples:

"You begin to comprehend me, do you" cried he, turning towards her. "Oh! yes, I understand you perfectly."

Research Methodology. In this article, synonyms have been examined based on comparative, descriptive and etymological methods. In this study, linguistic and extralinguistic factors which influenced on the synonyms are discussed. These units mainly focused on the historical and cultural associations. Also, the meaning and content of them have been expressed with the help of examples. Hope, expectation, anticipation are considered to be synonymous because they all mean "having smth in mind which is likely to happen..." But expectation may be either of good or of evil. Anticipation is as a rule an expectation of smth good. Hope is not only a belief but a desire that some event would happen. The stylistic difference is also quite marked. The Romance words anticipation and expectation are formal literary words used only by educated speakers, whereas the native monosyllabic hope is stylistically neutral. Moreover, they differ in idiomatic usage. Only hope is possible in such set expressions as to hope against hope, to lose hope, to pin one's hopes on smth.

Analysis аnd results. Traditional linguistics solved the problem with the notional criterion and defined synonyms as words of the same part of speech conveying the same notion but differing either in shades of meaning or in stylistic characteristics. Some aspects of this definition have been criticised. It has been pointed out that linguistic phenomena should be defined in linguistic terms and the term «notion» makes this an extralinguistic definition. In contemporary linguistics the semantic criterion of synonymy is frequently used. In terms of componental analysis synonyms may be defined as words with the same or nearly the same denotation (or the denotative components) but differing in connotations (in emotive charge or in stylistic characteristics).

to begin - to start - to commence (stylistic reference),

to put - to place - to lay - to set - to deposite (shades of meaning),

to tremble - to shiver - to shudder (shades of meaning),

to like - to admire - to love (emotive charge).

In Uzbek and English languages, synonyms are words or phrases that have similar or identical meanings. Synonyms in Uzbek and English share similar or related meanings. They convey comparable concepts or ideas, although they may have slight differences in connotation, register, or usage. For example, "yaxshi" (good) and "a'lo" (excellent) are synonyms with similar meanings but different degrees of meaning. In English also we have such kind of words. For example, "happy" and "joyful" are synonyms with similar meanings but may have nuanced differences in the intensity or nature of happiness. Contextual appropriateness of synonyms in Uzbek and English should be appropriate within the given context. Different synonyms may be used in formal or informal settings, technical or literary texts, or specific passages. For example, "tushuntirish" (to explain) and "bayon qilmoq" (to elucidate) are synonyms, but the latter is more commonly used in formal or academic contexts. In Eglish, "talk" and "speak" are synonyms, but "talk" is generally used in more informal contexts, while "speak" is used in formal or professional settings. Synonyms in Uzbek can belong to the same part of speech. For instance, "yomon" (bad) and "yovuz" (evil) are adjectives that can be used interchangeably in sentences like "U yomon odam" (He is a bad person) or "U yovuz odam" (He is an evil person). In English we have "beautiful" and "gorgeous" are adjectives that can be used interchangeably to describe something aesthetically pleasing. Synonyms in Uzbek may have different registers or levels of formality. Some words or phrases are used in colloquial speech, while others are more common in formal or written contexts. For example, "gapirmoq" (to speak) and "aytmoq" (to say) are synonyms, but the former is more informal and commonly used in daily conversation, while the latter is used in formal or literary contexts. In English also have "kid" (informal) and "child" (formal) are synonyms, but each has its own register and usage. Uzbek language has dialectal variations across different regions. Synonyms may differ based on regional preferences or local usage. For instance, words like "odam" (man) and "shaxs" (person) can be considered synonyms, but "odam" is more widely used in standard Uzbek, while "er" is commonly used in certain dialects or regions. In English, "elevator" (used in American English) and "lift" (used in British English) are synonyms for a vertical transport device, but their usage can differ based on the regional context.

It is important to note that synonyms may not be exact substitutes in all contexts. Language use is influenced by various factors, including culture, register, personal preference, and evolving language trends. Therefore, the identification of synonyms in Uzbek, as in any language, is subject to interpretation and may vary based on individual speakers or writers.

Here are some more examples of synonyms in Uzbek language along with their semantic similarities:

"Bola" (child) and "farzand" (offspring): Both words refer to a young human being, indicating the semantic similarity in terms of a young individual within the family context. "Kasalxona" (hospital) and "shifoxona" (clinic): Both words refer to medical facilities where people receive medical treatment, highlighting the semantic similarity in terms of places for healthcare services. "Gapir-" (to speak) and "suhbat qilmoq" (to converse): Both phrases indicate verbal communication between individuals, although "suhbat qilmoq" specifically refers to conversing or having a conversation. "Kichik" (small) and "mitti" (tiny): Both adjectives indicate a small size or dimension, but "mitti" carries a notion of being extremely small or tiny. "Ish" (work) and "vazifa" (task): Both words refer to activities or assignments that require effort or engagement, indicating the semantic similarity in terms of duties or responsibilities. "Xasta" (sick) and "kasal" (ill): Both adjectives indicate a state of being unwell or suffering from an illness, highlighting the semantic similarity in terms of health-related conditions. "Savol" (question) and "muammo" (problem): Although not exact synonyms, both words indicate something that needs to be addressed or resolved, highlighting the semantic similarity in terms of an issue or challenge. "To'g'ri" (correct) and "haqiqiy" (true): Both adjectives convey the notion of something being accurate, valid, or factual, indicating the semantic similarity in terms of correctness or truthfulness.

These examples demonstrate various aspects of semantic similarity between synonyms in the Uzbek language, including core meaning, connotation, register, specificity, and idiomatic expressions.

Collocation and Idiomatic Usage in English: Synonyms can be used within specific collocations or idiomatic expressions, where the overall meaning of the expression may not be directly related to the individual meanings of the constituent words. In such cases, the semantic similarity lies in the shared usage or collocation of the synonyms. For example, "make" and "create" are synonyms, but "make a decision" and "create a masterpiece" are idiomatic expressions where each synonym is used in a specific collocation. It is important to note that the identification of synonyms in English is not always a one-to-one substitution, as words may have different connotations, nuances, or shades of meaning. The context, usage, and specific register play a significant role in determining the appropriateness and interchangeability of synonyms in English. Register-specific Synonyms are used in specific registers or domains of language, such as technical, scientific, or specialized fields. They may have similar meanings but are preferred or more commonly used in particular contexts. For example, in Uzbek, "kitob" (book) and "darslik" (textbook) can be considered registerspecific synonyms, with "darslik" being more commonly used in educational or academic settings. In English, "purchase" and "buy" are register-specific synonyms, with "purchase" being more formal and commonly used in business or legal contexts. These types of synonyms illustrate the various relationships and nuances that exist within the lexicons of Uzbek and English languages. Understanding these distinctions can help improve language usage, precision, and the ability to express oneself effectively in different contexts. The study of synonyms is especially indispensable for those who learn English as a foreign language because what is the right word in one situation will be wrong in many other, apparently similar, contexts.

A characteristic feature of a vocabulary of any language is the existence of synonyms, which is closely connected with the problem of meaning of the word. The most complicated problem is the definition of the term "synonyms". There are a great many definitions of the term, but there is no universally accepted one. Traditionally the synonyms are defined as words different in sound-form, but identical or similar in meaning. But this definition has been severely criticized on many points.

Conclusion. Synonyms can therefore be defined in terms of linguistics as two or more words of the same language, belonging to the same part of seech and possessing one or more identical or nearly identical denotational meanings, interchangeable, at least in some contexts, without any considerable alteration I denotational meaning, but differing in morphemic composition, phonemic shape, shades of meaning, connotations, affective value, style, valence and idiomatic use. Additional characteristics of style, emotional coloringand valence peculiar to one of the elements in a synonymic group may be absent in one or all of the others.

REFERENCES

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