SPEECH ACTS AND NONVERBAL SIGNALS OF FRIENDLINESS IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK DISCOURSE
Abstract
This article examines the pragmatic characteristics of speech acts and nonverbal signals of friendliness in English and Uzbek discourse. The study analyzes how friendliness is expressed through verbal and nonverbal means of communication in two linguocultural contexts. The research focuses on expressive speech acts such as greetings, compliments, expressions of gratitude, invitations, and supportive utterances, as well as nonverbal signals, including facial expressions, gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, and interpersonal distance. The study applies comparative and discourse-analytical methods to authentic examples selected from literary texts, films, and everyday communication. The findings indicate that English discourse tends to demonstrate friendliness through directness, informality, and explicit emotional expression, while Uzbek discourse reflects friendliness through politeness, respect-oriented communication, and culturally specific nonverbal behavior. The research contributes to intercultural pragmatics and discourse studies by identifying similarities and differences in friendly communicative behavior across English and Uzbek speech communities.
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