Untranslatable phraseological and idiomatic units in bilingual dictionaries: theoretical and practical approaches

Abstract

This article extensively examines the theoretical foundations of non-equivalent lexical units, providing a consistent analysis of their role within the language system and their semantic features. In particular, special attention is paid to the phraseological and idiomatic aspects of these units, their usage in discourse, and their connection with cultural context. The study is based on materials from Uzbek and English languages and explores the challenges of representing, interpreting, and finding equivalents for non-equivalent units in bilingual dictionaries. Furthermore, the article identifies the main strategies employed in translating phraseological and idiomatic units, including explanation, adaptation, and the use of functional equivalents. Stylistic features, national and cultural differences, and connotative meanings are analyzed in detail as key sources of translation difficulty. The results of the research are significant for the compilation of bilingual dictionaries and the improvement of translation practice. In addition, theoretical perspectives are supported by practical examples, ensuring terminological accuracy and offering recommendations for lexicographic practice. The findings can be effectively applied in educational processes, translator training, and further research, while also outlining directions for future studies.