CREATING AN EMOTIONAL DICTIONARY: TAKING CULTURAL-LINGUISTIC SPECIFICS INTO ACCOUNT

Abstract

This article presents a study on the creation of an emotional lexicon of the Uzbek
language, taking into account its cultural and linguistic specificities. The emotional vocabulary
of Uzbek reflects a complex interplay between language, national identity, and collective
emotional experience. The purpose of the research is to develop a culturally sensitive
framework for identifying and categorizing emotional expressions in Uzbek across diverse
communicative contexts. The study analyzes a wide range of traditional sources, including
folklore, proverbs, and classical literature, alongside modern discourse materials such as media
texts, online forums, and social networks. Particular attention is given to dialectal variations and
culturally embedded connotations, such as the double meaning of words like “achchiq” (bitter
taste and emotional bitterness) and “suyanmoq” (physical leaning and emotional reliance).
Methodologically, the research integrates corpus linguistics, sociolinguistic surveys, and AI-
based sentiment analysis to ensure both empirical validity and cultural depth. As a result, the
study proposes a prototype of an Uzbek emotional lexicon that captures emotional polarity,
intensity, and contextual usage. The practical applications of this lexicon include improving
human-computer interaction (e.g., chatbots), enriching language learning tools, and supporting
sociolinguistic and affective computing research. The findings underscore the necessity of a
standardized, culturally informed affective lexicon in Uzbek for preserving linguistic richness
and enhancing emotional nuance in digital communication. This work contributes to the broader
field of Turkic affective linguistics and emphasizes the importance of integrating cultural
semantics into computational models.