THE LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF CHILDHOOD IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK WORLDVIEWS

Abstract

The notion of a child occupies a significant place in the linguistic and cultural worldview of every society. It represents not only a biological stage of human life but also a complex system of emotional, social, and moral meanings that are encoded in language. This article examines how the concept of child is represented in English and Uzbek linguistic traditions from a linguocognitive and comparative perspective. The analysis focuses on lexical meanings, metaphorical expressions, and cultural associations connected with the words child and bola. The study demonstrates that although both languages share universal perceptions of childhood such as innocence, growth, and dependence, they also reflect culturally specific interpretations shaped by historical and social values. English discourse often presents the child as an individual personality undergoing psychological and personal development, while Uzbek linguistic culture emphasizes the child’s connection to family, moral upbringing, and collective identity.