Structural-semantic classification and etymological layers of astrological vocabulary in English and Uzbek

Abstract

The article examines the structural-semantic classification and etymological analysis of astrological vocabulary in English and Uzbek. The material comprises horoscopes from horoscope.com and darakchi.uz and data from explanatory and etymological dictionaries of both languages. Descriptive, comparative-typological, componential and etymological methods were applied. Structurally, the units are divided into simple words, derived words, compounds and phraseological units: English relies mainly on Greco-Latin derivation, while Uzbek prefers analytical phrases and calques. Semantically, the vocabulary falls into four groups: names of celestial bodies, zodiac signs, houses and aspects, and the vocabulary of prediction and fate. It is shown that part of the English Greco-Latin layer has undergone determinologization and entered general usage (disaster, influence, jovial), whereas Uzbek combines Arabic, Persian and Turkic layers and uses parallel Arabic and Turkic names for the zodiac signs. Componential analysis reveals the religious connotations of the Uzbek words denoting fate. The results can be applied in contrastive lexicology, terminology and the translation of horoscopes.