Euphemism Formation in English And Uzbek Media Discourse: A Cross-Linguistic and Pragmatic Analysis

This study provides a comparative analysis of euphemisms in English and Uzbek media discourse, focusing on their linguistic structures and pragmatic functions within cultural contexts. Drawing on contrastive linguistics and pragmatic theories, the research analyzes data from leading English (BBC, The Guardian, CNN) and Uzbek (Kun.uz, Daryo.uz, Xalq So‘zi) media sources using both quantitative content analysis and qualitative contextual analysis. Findings reveal that English euphemisms often address individualistic and global themes, employing lexical and grammatical mitigation strategies, whereas Uzbek euphemisms emphasize communal values and cultural traditions through poetic and idiomatic expressions. The study highlights the role of euphemisms in managing sensitive topics and shaping public perception, with implications for cross-cultural media communication. Future research directions include comparative studies with other Turkic languages and the use of AI-based tools for euphemism analysis.