FROM MAGIC TO SEHR: A CROSS-CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF MAGICAL CONCEPTS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK
Abstract
There isn’t a single, widely recognized definition of magic, as demonstrated by contemporary anthropology and linguistics. Jesper Sorensen offers a commonly used working definition, pointing out that the term's roots are in the Greek words magos and mageia (from Persian magus, the priestly caste): “magic is about changing the state or essence of persons, objects, acts and events through special, non-trivial actions and representations.” This paper provides a linguistic and cultural comparison between magic and sehr, aiming to clarify how the concepts function within their respective societies. Understanding these distinctions is important for translation studies, intercultural communication, and anthropology.
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