Source and target domains of conceptual metaphor in English and Uzbek phraseology: a comparative cognitive analysis

Abstract

The article presents a comparative cognitive analysis of source and target domains of conceptual metaphor in English and Uzbek phraseology. Its aim is to identify typical patterns of conceptual projection in phraseological units and to distinguish conceptual correspondence from phraseological equivalence. The material consists of metaphorical idioms from both languages, examined through comparative cognitive, semantic, and conceptual analysis. HUMAN BODY, SPACE AND DIRECTION, and MOVEMENT AND PATH are treated as major source domains grounded in everyday experience. Pairs such as lose one’s head – boshini yo‘qotmoq, hang one’s head – bosh egmoq, and pave the way – yo‘l ochmoq illustrate three types of relations: the same source and the same target domain; one source with different target domains; and different source images expressing a comparable target meaning. The findings show that cross-linguistic similarity often appears at the level of conceptual structure rather than formal equivalence. This approach helps describe universal and culture-specific features of phraseological conceptualization more precisely.