Cross-Linguistic Comparison of Phraseological Units (on the Example of Tajik and Russian Languages)

Abstract

Phraseology represents an essential component of linguistic competence, reflecting not only structural properties of language but also culturally embedded patterns of meaning. This article presents a cross-linguistic comparison of phraseological units in Tajik and Russian to identify their structural, semantic, and cultural similarities and differences. The study is based on a comparative analysis of selected phraseological units extracted from authoritative phraseological dictionaries and linguistic sources in both languages. The analysis focuses on the degree of semantic equivalence, metaphorical motivation, and cultural specificity of phraseological expressions. The findings reveal that while several phraseological units in Tajik and Russian demonstrate partial or full semantic correspondence, many units are culture-specific and rely on distinct imagery and conceptual frameworks. The study highlights the role of national and cultural factors in the formation of phraseology. It underscores the importance of contrastive phraseological analysis for translation studies, lexicography, and foreign language teaching.