This article explores the use of metaphors and symbols in the English and Uzbek languages from a comparative linguistic and cultural perspective. It analyzes how metaphorical expressions and symbolic imagery reflect the unique worldview, historical background, and national identity of each linguistic community. By examining selected examples from literature, proverbs, and everyday speech, the study identifies both universal and culturally specific features of metaphor and symbol usage. The article highlights the cognitive and communicative functions of these linguistic devices and discusses their role in shaping conceptual frameworks. The research findings contribute to a deeper understanding of cross-cultural semantics and support effective intercultural communication and translation practices.

figurative language, metaphors, symbols, concept.

1. Adams, M. (2008). Symbolism in Christian Art and Architecture. University Press.

Akbarov, S. (2007). Islamic Art and Symbolism in Central Asia. Central Asian University Press.

Crystal, D. (2008). A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics. Wiley-Blackwell.

Ergashev, M. (2018). Symbols of National Identity in Central Asian Linguacultural Contexts. Tashkent University Press.

Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions, and Organizations Across Nations. SAGE Publications.

Fox-Davies, A. C. (1974). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. Tuttle Publishing

Karimova, N. (2014). Cultural Heritage and Symbols in Uzbek Art. Uzbek Academy of Sciences Press.

8. Lakoff, G., & Johnson, M. (1980). Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Foundational work on Conceptual Metaphor Theory, explaining how everyday language is rooted in metaphorical thought.

9. Kövecses, Z. (2005). Metaphor in Culture: Universality and Variation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Explores the cross-cultural dimensions of metaphors, including cultural constraints on metaphor usage.

10. Kövecses, Z. (2010). Metaphor: A Practical Introduction (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.A comprehensive guide to understanding metaphor in language, thought, and culture.

11. Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. New York: Basic Books. A seminal text in symbolic anthropology that discusses the cultural significance of symbols.

12. Yu, N. (1998). The Contemporary Theory of Metaphor: A Perspective from Chinese. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.