FUNCTIONAL-SEMANTIC FEATURES OF IRONY IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH

Abstract

This article highlights the functional-semantic features of irony in Uzbek and English from a comparative linguistic perspective. Irony is one of the most expressive and context-dependent stylistic devices used to convey implicit meanings, emotional evaluation, pragmatic intentions, and social attitudes. The research aims to identify the semantic characteristics of ironic expressions, analyze their communicative and stylistic functions, and compare the linguistic mechanisms through which irony is realized in Uzbek and English. The study employs semantic, pragmatic, stylistic, and comparative methods to explore the use of irony in literary texts, everyday discourse, and culturally marked expressions. Particular attention is paid to the relationship between literal and intended meaning, as well as the role of context, speaker intention, and cultural background in interpreting irony. The findings are expected to show that while irony in Uzbek and English shares several universal features, each language also demonstrates culturally and linguistically specific patterns in the formation and interpretation of ironic meaning.