SEMANTIC EXTENSION AND FIGURATIVE USE OF MEDICAL TERMS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES)
Keywords:
medical terminology, semantic extension, metaphor, figurative language, English-Uzbek comparison, cognitive linguistics, lexical shift, cross-cultural semantics, language of medicine, linguistic transformationAbstract
This article explores the semantic extension and figurative use of medical terminology in English and Uzbek languages. The research focuses on how medical terms, originally used within strictly professional contexts, have expanded their meanings and entered general language usage with metaphorical, symbolic, or idiomatic connotations. The study analyzes the linguistic mechanisms of semantic broadening, including metaphor, metonymy, and semantic shift, and compares their manifestations in both languages. Through examples from authentic texts and spoken discourse, the article highlights the role of cultural and cognitive factors in shaping the figurative use of medical terms. The findings contribute to understanding the dynamic nature of medical vocabulary and its interaction with everyday language in both English and Uzbek linguistic systems.
