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Abstract
Oxymoron is a commonly employed rhetorical and stylistic tool that merges semantically opposing elements to create a cohesive and impactful meaning. Though oxymorons have typically been examined in stylistics and rhetoric, their pragmatic and intercultural aspects are still not thoroughly investigated, especially regarding the Uzbek and English languages. This article seeks to explore the cross-cultural pragmatic variations in the application and understanding of oxymorons in English and Uzbek discourse. Utilizing pragmatic theories and cultural linguistics principles, the research examines oxymorons drawn from literary works, conversations, and media discussions in both languages. The study uses contextual, pragmatic, and comparative approaches to analyze how speaker intention, cultural norms, and communicative context affect the understanding of oxymoronic expressions. The results indicate that although oxymorons in both languages serve comparable pragmatic roles—such as conveying irony, judgment, and emotional strength—their occurrence, favored settings, and interpretive approaches vary considerably because of cultural and communicative norms. The research enhances cross-cultural pragmatics by showing that oxymorons serve not only as stylistic devices but also as culturally rooted pragmatic instruments that represent unique perspectives and communication styles in Uzbek and English
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