POLYSEMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS OF SOME GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS

129 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar POLYSEMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS OF SOME GEOGRAPHICAL TERMS G.K.Khabibulloyeva Teacher of Denau entrepreneurship and pedagogy institute S.K.Khabibulloeva Student of Denau entrepreneurship and pedagogy institute https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17627586 Annotatsiya: Ushbu maqola terminlarning polisemiyasi, xususan, texnik atamalardagi ko‘p ma’nolilik muammosini ko‘rib chiqadi. Unda so‘zlarning kontekstga qarab turli ma’nolarga ega bo‘lishi tushuntiriladi va geografik terminologiyadagi "World", "Coast", "Channel" va "Mountain" kabi atamalar misolida polisemiyaning amaliy namunalari keltirilgan. Maqola texnik matnlarni tarjima qilishda polisemiyani hisobga olish muhimligini ta’kidlaydi. Kalit so‘zlar: Polisemiya, terminologiya, ko‘p ma’nolilik, texnik atamalar, geografik terminlar, tarjima, tilshunoslik, kontekst, semantika, atama. Аннотатсия: Данная статья посвящена проблеме полисемии терминов, особенно многозначности в технической терминологии. В ней объясняется, как слова могут иметь разные значения в зависимости от контекста, и приводятся практические примеры полисемии на примере географических терминов, таких как «World», «Coast», «Channel» и «Mountain». Статья подчеркивает важность учета полисемии при переводе технических текстов. Ключевые слова: Полисемия, терминология, многозначность, технические термины, географические термины, перевод, лингвистика, контекст, семантика, термин. Abstract: This article explores the issue of term polysemy, particularly the ambiguity in technical terminology. It explains how words can acquire multiple meanings depending on context and provides practical examples of polysemy using geographical terms like "World," "Coast," "Channel," and "Mountain." The paper emphasizes the critical importance of considering polysemy when translating technical literature. Keywords: Polysemy, terminology, ambiguity, technical terms, geographical terms, translation, linguistics, context, semantics, term. Many linguists focused a lot of attention on the issue of terms’ polysemy. Linguists are particularly interested in the formation of technical words and the analysis of translation issues. In contemporary terminology, a lot of thought is given to how terms work in speech. The majority of English words are ambiguous and can have many meanings depending on the context, particularly when it comes to technical jargon. It is crucial to do a thorough investigation of how the terminology’ systems operate in the unique environment. The situation when a single word has two or more related meanings is known as polysemy in English linguistics. The Greek words poly (many) and sema (sign/meaning) are where the name originates. Therefore, depending on the context, a single form (a word or phrase) might transmit several related senses. This phenomenon is known as polysemy. A word may retain its prior meaning or meanings while simultaneously acquiring one or more new meanings, according to the concept of polysemy. The issue of the relationship and interdependence of a polysemantic word’s distinct meanings can then be expressed as though the term always has all of its meanings or that some of them emerge before the others. According to A.A. Reformatorsky, terms (derived from the Latin “border” and “limit”) are unique words that are determined by their unique meaning. These words are meant to be clear and precise in expressing the name and meaning of things. It is essential for diplomacy, technique, etc. 130 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar There are terms in the structure of specific terminology as well as in the language itself. They gain unambiguity if they can use polysemantic terminology in a shared language. Polysemy in geographical terminology is a common phenomenon where a single term can denote several distinct meanings depending on the context. This enriches the language but can also lead to ambiguity if not clarified. Below are examples of such terms and their various semantic layers. 1. “World” The term "World" can refer to several concepts, both geographical and broader: Planet Earth (Planetary sense): The planet we live on, including all its natural and socioeconomic components. Example: "Traveling around the globe means discovering the world." The entirety of human civilization, continents, and their inhabitants (Global scale): Humanity, nations, cultures, and global processes. Example: "Today's changes in the world economy affect all countries." A specific field, region, or community (Limited sense): Sometimes denotes a smaller, specialized area. Example: "The scientific world shows great interest in this issue." (Referring to the scientific community) Example: "The world of plants is very diverse." (Referring to flora) Example: "Studying the animal world is one of the main tasks of biology." (Referring to fauna) An individual's environment and life (Philosophical-psychological sense): An individual's subjective perception of existence. Example: "Every person has their own world." 2. "Coast" / "Shore" / "Bank" This term refers to the boundary where a body of water meets land, but its meaning varies depending on the type of water body: Seaside or Ocean Coast (Coast): The land area bordering a sea or ocean. It can encompass a long, wide region. Example: "The Mediterranean coast is a popular destination for tourists." Lakeside or Reservoir Shore (Shore): The land bordering a lake or reservoir. Example: "Many resorts are located along the northern shore of Lake Balaton." Riverside or Canal Bank (Bank): The land on either side of a river or canal. Example: "The banks of the Syr Darya river are covered with thick reeds." Port or Harbor Quay/Dock (Quay / Dock): An artificial structure where ships dock, load, or unload cargo. Example: "The ship approached the quay and began to unload its cargo." 3. "Channel" / "Bed" / "Valley Bottom" The term "Channel" or its related concepts can also describe several features associated with rivers: The path where river water flows (Riverbed / Channel): The low-lying, often submerged area where river water continuously flows. Example: "Due to drought, the river channel dried up." The lowest part of a river valley (Valley Bottom): The lowest, flat part of a valley formed by river erosion. This can refer to the river itself and the adjacent riparian areas. Example: "Fertile soils are found in the valley bottoms of the Fergana Valley." (Here, "valley bottom" refers to the broader floor of the valley, not just the narrow river course.) 131 Vol. 5, No. 11 – Special Issue (EJAR) ISSN: 2181-2020 LPTIENP International Scientific-Practice Conference on “Linguistics and Pedagogical Technologies: International Experience and National Practice” Denau, November 20, 2025 in-academy.uz/index.php/ejar A natural or artificial waterway: A wider sense, referring to a strait or a constructed waterway. Example: "The English Channel separates Great Britain from mainland Europe." Example: "The Panama Canal greatly reduced shipping times." 4. "Mountain" / "Range" / "Hill" The term "Mountain" also has varying meanings when referring to elevated landforms: An isolated elevated landform (Mountain): A natural formation with steep slopes and a peak, significantly rising above the surrounding area (e.g., Mount Everest). Example: "Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in the Caucasus Mountains." A series of connected mountains (Mountain Range): A group of mountains linked together (e.g., the Tian Shan Mountains). Example: "The Ural Mountains are located on the border of Europe and Asia." A smaller elevation, a mound (Hill, sometimes used colloquially for mountain): Sometimes smaller elevations are also referred to as "mountains," especially in local dialects or metaphorically. Example: "The village near the Three Hills" (often referring to smaller eminences). 5. "Plain" / "Plateau" / "Flatland" The term "Plain" also has different meanings when describing flat or relatively flat parts of the Earth's surface: Wood – 1) a piece of a tree; 2) a geographical area with many trees. In conclusion, we can define polysemy as a diachronic shift in a word's semantic structure that results in the addition of new meanings to preexisting ones and the reorganisation of these meanings inside the word's semantic structure. The link between the diachronic and synchronic evaluation of individual meanings of the same word may vary throughout the language's historical development since the semantic structure is never static. To accurately translate technical literature, we must consider the polysemy of a wide range of terminology. Without a doubt, engineers in a given field who are proficient in the language are better at translating technical documents because they are knowledgeable about the subject of the translation —i.e., their major —and they understand the technological process, enabling them to interpret it correctly. Nonetheless, understanding polisemantic terminology will make the translation process easier. References: 1. S.M.Bobrovnik, “Polesemy of English terms”, kamts1.kpi.ua. 2. Реформаторский А.А. Введение в языковедение / А.А. Реформаторский. – М., 1996 . – 275 с. 3. Safarova, A., & Khabibulloyeva, G. (2024). The usage of phraseological and idiomatic units in the novel» Between the Two Doors» by Utkir Khoshimov. In Conference Proceedings: Fostering Your Research Spirit (pp. 503-504). 4. IBODULLAYEVNA, S. B., SOBIRJONOVNA, S. M., & MIRBOBOYEVNA, T. G. (2020). The Concept of Culture and Internet Connection. International Journal of Innovations in Engineering Research and Technology, 7(05), 193-195. 5. Muxlisa, S., & Mohinur, Q. (2022). Lingvokulturalogiyaning kеlib chiqish tarixi. Евразийский журнал академических исследований, 2(3), 379-383. 6. Abdullayeva, I. A. K., & Khushbakova, N. N. K. (2022). Problems of Translating English Idioms Into Uzbek. Academic research in educational sciences, 3(11), 208-211.