THE DYNAMICS OF SEMANTIC SHIFTS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LOANWORDS

Аннотация

The phenomenon of lexical borrowing plays a central role in the evolution of languages, reflecting cultural interaction, globalization, and social development. Both modern English and Uzbek have adopted a significant number of foreign lexical items, many of which undergo notable semantic changes after being integrated into the recipient language. This study investigates the patterns and mechanisms of semantic shifts in English and Uzbek loanwords, with particular emphasis on processes such as semantic narrowing, semantic broadening, amelioration, and pejoration. Examples drawn from literary works, media sources, and academic texts demonstrate how borrowed words adapt to local linguistic and cultural contexts. The analysis reveals that English loanwords generally preserve their original meanings due to global standardization, whereas Uzbek loanwords often experience substantial semantic modification influenced by local usage, social factors, and cultural norms. This research provides insight into the dynamic nature of lexical borrowing and its role in language development.