Evaluation Of The Female Image Through Phraseological Units And Figurative Expressions: Uzbek Equivalents Of German Phraseologisms

Abstract

Phraseological units and figurative expressions are among the most culturally saturated elements of language, carrying condensed evaluations that can subtly shape how characters are perceived. In literary discourse, they function not only as stylistic ornamentation but also as instruments of axiological framing: they praise, condemn, soften, ridicule, idealize, or stereotype. This study examines how evaluative meanings directed at the female image are encoded in German phraseology and how these meanings are rendered in Uzbek equivalents in translation. Building on contrastive phraseology and translation studies, the article proposes an analytical model that distinguishes denotative reference, connotative evaluation, pragmatic force, and stylistic register as core components of phraseological meaning. Using a corpus-oriented qualitative approach, the study identifies recurring patterns of equivalence and shift, focusing on (1) direct idiomatic equivalence, (2) functional equivalence through culturally proximate Uzbek phraseologisms, (3) semantic modulation and explicitation, and (4) compensation strategies when phraseological imagery cannot be preserved. The results show that translations tend to preserve the overall positive/negative orientation of evaluation more consistently than they preserve imagery, and that Uzbek equivalents often intensify moral or social judgment through culturally salient frames (honor, modesty, reputation), while German originals may favor psychological nuance or irony. The article argues that faithful representation of the female image requires sensitivity to evaluative micro-meanings, particularly in idioms that encode gendered social expectations, and it offers criteria for selecting Uzbek equivalents that minimize distortion of characterization.