PRAGMATIC FUNCTIONS OF COMPLIMENT SPEECH ACTS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK SOCIETIES

:This article is devoted to the study of compliment speech acts and their pragmatic functions in English and Uzbek societies. Compliments are analyzed as an important type of expressive speech acts that play a significant role in interpersonal communication, politeness strategies, and social interaction. The article examines the linguistic and pragmatic nature of compliments, their communicative purposes, and their sociocultural characteristics in both English and Uzbek communication.Special attention is paid to the comparative analysis of compliment speech acts in the two cultures. The research identifies similarities and differences in the forms, meanings, and responses to compliments. English compliments are mainly characterized by directness, brevity, and conversational function, while Uzbek compliments are more emotional, culturally expressive, and closely connected with traditional etiquette and modesty.The article also discusses the role of compliments in maintaining positive relationships, reducing social distance, encouraging individuals, and expressing respect. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of pragmatic competence and intercultural understanding in the interpretation and translation of compliment speech acts. The findings of the research contribute to the fields of pragmatics, sociolinguistics, intercultural communication, and discourse analysis.