THE ROLE OF GRADUONYMY IN THE LEXICAL AND SEMANTIC LEVELS OF ENGLISH AND UZBEK: A PSYCHOLINGUISTIC VIEW

This article explores the role of gradience in the lexical and semantic levels of English and Uzbek from a psycholinguistic perspective. It examines how words in both languages exhibit gradational meaning rather than fixed, categorical interpretations. Lexical gradience is illustrated through examples like adjectives describing height or speed, which vary depending on context. Similarly, semantic gradience is discussed in terms of polysemy and context-dependent meanings. The article also integrates psycholinguistic insights on how speakers process gradient meanings, using cognitive theories such as prototype theory and categorization. By comparing English and Uzbek, the paper highlights the flexible, context-sensitive nature of meaning in both languages.