SOCIOPRAGMATIC INTERPRETATION OF TIME AND SPACE IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK COMMUNICATIVE CULTURES
Abstract
The present study investigates time and space as sociopragmatic constructs that regulate communicative behavior in English and Uzbek cultural contexts. Rather than treating time and space as neutral physical or grammatical categories, the research conceptualizes them as culturally mediated systems that structure politeness, interactional norms, and interpersonal expectations (Leech, 1983; Hall, 1976). Employing a qualitative comparative methodology grounded in cognitive linguistics and intercultural pragmatics, the study examines metaphorical patterns, proverb usage, and discourse practices across both languages (Lakoff & Johnson, 1980; Wierzbicka, 1997). The analysis demonstrates that English communication is shaped by temporal precision, punctuality, and spatial autonomy (Hall, 1966; Hofstede, 2001), while Uzbek interaction is guided by flexible temporality, communal presence, and proximity-oriented norms (Alimov, 2010; Iriskulov, 2019). These differences are shown to play a crucial role in intercultural misinterpretation, underscoring the importance of sociopragmatic competence in language education and cross-cultural communication (Byram, 1997; Kasper & Rose, 2002).