CULTURAL CODES IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK POLITICAL DISCOURSE: A COMPARATIVE LINGUOCULTURAL ANALYSIS
Abstract
This paper explores the concept of «cultural codes» in English and Uzbek political discourse through a comparative linguocultural and pragmatic perspective. Based on the ideas presented in Musleh Khusam’s dissertation, the research identifies how political rhetoric reflects and constructs national cultural identities through emotionally charged lexical, metaphoric, and communicative patterns. The study integrates theories of discourse, culture, and emotion (Hall, 2021; Hofstede, 2020; Wierzbicka, 2018; van Dijk, 2018) and examines speeches by Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Western political figures such as Barack Obama and Winston Churchill. The findings reveal that English political discourse is characterized by individualistic and motivational cultural codes (“freedom,” “progress,” “change”), while Uzbek discourse is dominated by collectivist and moral codes (“unity,” “stability,” “justice,” “faith”). These codes serve as linguistic reflections of cultural values and perform pragmatic functions of persuasion, solidarity, and ideological cohesion. The study contributes to the understanding of intercultural political communication by highlighting the interaction between emotional evaluation, metaphorical framing, and cultural meaning-making within political language.
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