LINGUOCULTURAL FEATURES OF POLITENESS STRATEGIES IN UZBEK LITERATURE

This article investigates politeness strategies in English and Uzbek literary discourse from a linguocultural perspective. Drawing on Brown and Levinson’s Politeness Theory and Leech’s Politeness Maxims, the study analyzes how cultural values, social hierarchy, and communicative norms shape the realization of politeness strategies in both languages. Particular attention is given to positive and negative politeness strategies and their role in character interaction and social representation within literary texts.

The comparative analysis reveals that English politeness tends to favor indirectness and negative politeness strategies aimed at preserving individual autonomy and personal space, whereas Uzbek politeness predominantly relies on positive politeness strategies, honorifics, and culturally marked expressions reflecting collectivism, respect for elders, and social harmony. The findings demonstrate that politeness is not merely a linguistic phenomenon but a culturally conditioned communicative practice essential for effective cross-cultural communication.