Social and Cultural Function of Kinship Terms: Addressing Non-Related Persons in Uzbek

This article provides a linguistic and linguocultural analysis of kinship terms used to address non-relatives in Uzbek culture. The study examines the social, cultural, and linguistic aspects of these terms, revealing how they express respect, closeness, sincerity, and social norms. Particular attention is paid to forms of address applied to men and women, as well as to general honorific terms whose use depends on specific speech situations. The article analyzes how these forms differ according to age, gender, and social status, and explores their communicative and pragmatic functions in the process of interaction. Kinship terms used for non-relatives are evaluated as an important means of reflecting social and cultural norms in Uzbek society. At the same time, they serve as a valuable scholarly source for studying the social and cultural functions of language. The emotional and moral values conveyed through these terms – such as respect, closeness, sincerity, and kindness – as well as their role in reinforcing social norms, are highlighted. The study presents a systematic analysis of the use of these forms of address and demonstrates how they vary according to age, gender, social status, degree of familiarity, and speech situation (formal/informal, family/public).