ANTHROPOCENTRIC DESCRIPTION OF FIGURATIVE EXPRESSIONS IN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The anthropocentric paradigm has become one of the most significant approaches in contemporary linguistics, shifting the focus of linguistic research from language as an autonomous system to the human being as a central factor in language formation and interpretation. Figurative expressions represent one of the most vivid manifestations of the anthropocentric nature of language because they reflect people's perception of the world, emotional experiences, physical characteristics, social relations, cultural values, and cognitive processes. This article examines the anthropocentric features of figurative expressions in English and Uzbek. Particular attention is paid to figurative units based on human body parts, emotions, intellectual activity, interpersonal relations, and everyday experience. A comparative analysis demonstrates that English and Uzbek contain numerous figurative expressions with universal anthropocentric motivations, while their lexical images and cultural associations may differ significantly. The study shows that the human being functions simultaneously as the source, object, and interpretive center of figurative meaning. The anthropocentric investigation of figurative expressions contributes to a deeper understanding of national worldviews, linguistic conceptualization, intercultural communication, and the relationship between language, cognition, and culture.