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NATIONAL-CULTURAL SPECIFICS OF SPEECH ETIQUETTE IN
ENGLISH AND UZBEK Ataniyazova S.
Ataniyazova Sohiba - Teacher, DEPARTMENT OF THE ENGLISH PRACTICAL ASPECTS № 3, UZBEKISTAN STATE WORLD LANGUAGES UNIVERSITY, TASHKENT, REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Abstract: this article is based on a comparative study of national-cultural peculiarities of speech etiquette in the English and Uzbek languages. The study deals with the similarities and distinctive features of the topic of conversation, addressing, greeting expressions. Instances are provided in both languages.
Keywords: speech etiquette, national-cultural specifics, weather talk, addressing, greeting.
It is crucial to note that speech etiquette possesses a significant role in communication, in all spheres of life and situations ranging from formal communication to informal ones. According to the linguistic dictionary, speech etiquette represents the system of sustainable speech formulas imposed by the society in order to maintain communication in a chosen tone according to social roles and role positions relative to each other. Speech etiquette is applied in different situations: greetings, getting acquainted, farewells, gratitude, condolences, apologizing and others. Both English and Uzbek possess their own national-cultural peculiarities of speech etiquette. The etiquette formulas are connected with the life style and national traditions of the people.
At the outset, the speech etiquette is closely correlated with the topic of the conversation. It is frequently observed that Uzbek people are skilled at small talks. In other words, they try to avoid controversial or critical discussions when they communicate with strangers. Most common conversation topics are related to family life. People can communicate for ages about relatives and friends, marriages, births of children, graduations, promotions, health issues and others. Uzbeks enjoy finding common ground: common friends, relatives, place of study, interests and so on.
One of the peculiar features of English speech etiquette is that English people tend to choose a safe and personally unobtrusive topic such as the weather as an appropriate starter. It is assumed that English people talk about the weather because they are interested in this subject. Conversely, Kate Fox considers a different point of view concerning this topic. In the book "Watching the English" she mentions that English conversations about the weather are not really about the weather, but it is a form of code and evolved to help them to overcome their natural reserve. It is known that the greeting expressions 'Nice day, isn't it?', 'Isn't it cold?', 'Still raining eh?' and other variants on the theme are not requests for meteorological facts. They are ritual greetings, conversation starters or default 'fillers" [1].
Greetings are important as well as frequent in everyday social interactions all over the world. Appropriate greeting behavior is crucial for the establishment and maintenance of interpersonal relationships. According to Spolsky, greetings are considered to be "the basic oil of social relations'' [2].
In Uzbek culture greeting is often very detailed with questions about health, mood, all the relatives, their children and grandchildren. The following dialogues can be vivid illustrations:
1. - Assalomu alaykum! Qalay, bardammisiz?
-Xudoga shukur!... - Nevaralar yaxshimi? Xayriniso bonu eson-omonmi? Kelin yaxshi yuriptimi? Oy kuni yaqinlashgandir?. (Oybek)
On the contrary, in English greetings are short. They are varied according to the social distance and social status of the interlocutors. When an English speaker asks you "How are you?"or "How is your work?", he is not concerned much about your physical condition or
work, but showing his politeness. In English, greetings such as "Hello!", "How do you do?"and "I am pleased to meet you" have to be used to maintain the hearer's positive face, depending on the status of the participants and the social setting. Following conversation can be illustrative of short and informal greeting in English:
- "Morning, Boardman, " ... "How are you today?"
- "Oh, middlin', lad, just middlin'."( J. Harriot)
In the English and Uzbek languages addressing words are similar in some cases; however, there are several cultural peculiarities that significantly differ from each other. In Uzbek culture, when addressing strangers the words aka, opa, xola, otaxon, amaki are commonly used. They call even strangers with family member words such as otaxon, (father for old men), amaki and aka (uncle, brother for middle-aged men), uka, o 'g 'lim (brother, son for young men). The main reason for this type of addressing is that "family" reflects Uzbek cultural values. Besides, collectivism is preferred in families that grandparents, parents, grown children and other family members live together. In English culture, the words such as Miss, Sir, Madam are used to express respect to the interlocutor. "Sir" is particular for adult men who are the same or higher in job position, social status or age. For instance:
- Can I help you, sir; - addressed the shop keeper to Thane (J.Oke).
- Otaxon, sizning gapingizni hech qaytara olmayapman. (Father, I can't reject your opinion)( X. To 'xtaboyev)
In conclusion, it is essential to note that speech etiquette of different nations depends on their cultural background, life style and world perception.Therefore, speech etiquette in English and Uzbek has its national-cultural pecularities which are specific and vary in many cases.
References
1. Fox K. (2014). Watching the English. The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour, UK,
Hodder&Stoughton, p. 12.
2. Spolsky B. (1998). Sociolinguistics. - Oxford: Oxford University Press, p.20.
