Comparative Pragmatic Analysis of Speech Acts in English and Uzbek Family Discourse

Abstract

This study investigates the pragmatic features of speech acts in English and Uzbek family discourse through a comparative lens. The research examines how key speech act categories—including requests, directives, suggestions, prohibitions, gratitude, and expressions of empathy—are realized within the micro-context of family communication in both linguistic communities. Attention is given to the influence of cultural norms, social hierarchy, kinship relations, and age-based expectations on the formulation and interpretation of speech acts. The analysis, based on naturally occurring discourse samples, reveals that English family interactions tend to prioritize individual autonomy, direct yet polite modal constructions, and symmetrical communication patterns. In contrast, Uzbek family discourse reflects collectivist values, hierarchical role distribution, higher reliance on indirectness, and culturally embedded honor–respect markers. The findings contribute to cross-cultural pragmatics, discourse studies, and the development of culturally informed language-teaching approaches