FUNCTIONAL AND PRAGMATIC PECULIARITIES OF INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES IN THE ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGES Annotation This article presents a comparative linguistic analysis of the functional and pragmatic features of interrogative sentences in English and Uzbek. The study examines the syntactic structures, communicative purposes, and sociocultural implications of questions in both languages. Special attention is given to the influence of cultural and linguistic factors on the formation and interpretation of questions in various contexts. The paper analyzes the main types of interrogatives — yes/no questions, wh-questions, alternative, and tag questions — highlighting their pragmatic functions such as politeness strategies, emphasis, rhetorical effect, and discourse management. Based on authentic spoken and written language data, the research identifies both universal and language-specific characteristics. The findings are of practical relevance for the fields of translation, foreign language teaching, and intercultural pragmatics. Keywords interrogative sentences, functional linguistics, pragmatics, comparative analysis, English language, Uzbek language, politeness strategies, question typology, discourse, intercultural communication Annotatsiya Ushbu maqolada ingliz va o‘zbek tillaridagi so‘roq gaplarning funksional hamda pragmatik xususiyatlari qiyosiy tilshunoslik nuqtai nazaridan tahlil etiladi. Tadqiqotda har ikkala til uchun xos bo‘lgan so‘roq gaplarning sintaktik tuzilmalari, kommunikativ vazifalari va nutqdagi ijtimoiy-ma’naviy yuklamalari o‘rganiladi. Xususan, savollarni shakllantirish va talqin etishda madaniy omillar hamda til tizimidagi farqlar alohida e’tiborga olinadi. Maqolada umumiy (yes/no), maxsus (wh-), tanlovli va tag-so‘roqlar kabi so‘roq gap turlari ularning xushmuomalalik, urg‘u berish, ritorik ta’sir va muloqotni boshqarish kabi pragmatik funksiyalari bilan birgalikda tahlil qilinadi. Og‘zaki va yozma nutq namunalari asosida universal va milliy xususiyatlar aniqlanadi. Tadqiqot natijalari tarjima amaliyoti, xorijiy til o‘qitish metodikasi hamda madaniyatlararo pragmatika sohalari uchun muhim nazariy va amaliy asos bo‘lib xizmat qiladi. Kalit so‘zlar so‘roq gaplar, funksional tilshunoslik, pragmatika, qiyosiy tahlil, ingliz tili, o‘zbek tili, xushmuomalalik strategiyalari, savol tiplari, nutq madaniyati, madaniyatlararo muloqot Аннотация В статье проводится сравнительный анализ функциональных и прагматических особенностей вопросительных предложений в английском и узбекском языках. Исследование охватывает синтаксические структуры, коммуникативные функции и социокультурные аспекты использования вопросительных форм в обоих языках. Особое внимание уделяется культурным и лингвистическим факторам, влияющим на построение и интерпретацию вопросов в разных контекстах. Рассматриваются основные типы вопросов — общие (yes/no), специальные (wh-), альтернативные и разделительные — с акцентом на их прагматические функции: выражение вежливости, акцентирование, риторическое воздействие и управление коммуникацией. На основе анализа устных и письменных примеров выявляются как универсальные, так и специфические особенности. Результаты исследования представляют интерес для специалистов в области перевода, преподавания иностранных языков и межкультурной прагматики. Ключевые слова вопросительные предложения, функциональная лингвистика, прагматика, сравнительный анализ, английский язык, узбекский язык, стратегии вежливости, типология вопросов, речевая культура, межкультурная коммуникация Introduction In the contemporary landscape of linguistic studies, interrogative constructions play a pivotal role in shaping effective communication, serving not only as a means of eliciting information but also as instruments of social interaction, discourse regulation, and pragmatic nuance. As languages reflect distinct cultural and cognitive frameworks, the structure and use of questions differ across linguistic systems. English and Uzbek, belonging to different language families—Indo-European and Turkic respectively—offer fertile ground for comparative analysis in this regard. Despite the universality of asking questions, the syntactic realization, communicative intentions, and pragmatic strategies employed in interrogatives vary significantly depending on cultural norms and language-specific conventions. For instance, the expression of politeness, emphasis, or rhetorical effect in English interrogatives may be achieved through certain syntactic patterns and intonation, while in Uzbek, these functions may be realized through different morphological or contextual means. Therefore, a comparative investigation into the functional and pragmatic properties of interrogative sentences in these two languages provides deeper insight into their respective discourse practices and intercultural communication patterns. This study aims to analyze and compare the structural types and pragmatic functions of interrogative sentences in English and Uzbek, focusing on their usage in both spoken and written contexts. The research also highlights the impact of cultural and linguistic variables on question formation and interpretation. By identifying both universal patterns and language-specific features, this analysis contributes to the fields of functional linguistics, translation studies, language pedagogy, and intercultural pragmatics. Main body Interrogative sentences, integral to the process of communication, are central to the study of pragmatics and syntax. A fundamental distinction in the linguistic typology of questions lies in the syntactic structure and discourse function, influenced by both universal cognitive principles and language-specific features. The study of interrogatives has traditionally focused on their syntactic constructions, but more recent trends have emphasized their pragmatic implications—how they are used to manage conversation, convey politeness, or create rhetorical effects (Searle, 1969; Brown & Levinson, 1987). The comparative analysis of English and Uzbek interrogative structures provides a rich perspective on these issues. English, as an Indo-European language, employs auxiliary verbs, word order changes, and intonation patterns to form questions. In contrast, Uzbek, a Turkic language, relies on suffixation, question particles, and a different syntactic arrangement to perform the same communicative function. Thus, while the underlying pragmatic functions of interrogatives may overlap, their linguistic realization varies significantly due to structural and cultural differences. In English, the structure of interrogative sentences is predominantly shaped by the inversion of the subject and auxiliary verb, which is a primary syntactic feature for yes/no questions. For instance, in the sentence “Is she coming?” the auxiliary verb "is" precedes the subject "she," signaling a question. In wh-questions, an interrogative word such as "who," "what," or "where" is placed at the beginning of the sentence, often accompanied by inversion: “What did you say?”. Moreover, English interrogatives exhibit an array of syntactic variations based on discourse type. Yes/no questions typically require a straightforward response, while wh-questions seek specific information. Tag questions, such as “It’s cold today, isn’t it?” function as checks or to encourage agreement. These syntactic structures serve distinct pragmatic purposes, such as politeness, hedging, or emphasizing a point. In Uzbek, question formation is governed by agglutinative morphology, where question particles and suffixes are added to the verb or noun to indicate interrogation. For example, the particle "-mi?" is added to the verb to form a yes/no question: “U keladimi?” (Is he coming?). In wh-questions, an interrogative word such as "nima" (what), "qayerda" (where), or "qachon" (when) appears at the beginning of the sentence, followed by the verb: “Nima qilayapsan?” (What are you doing?). Additionally, Uzbek uses alternative questions, marked by the conjunction “yoki” (or), which allows the speaker to present two or more choices: “Sen kitob o‘qiysan yoki televizor tomosha qilasan?” (Do you read books or watch TV?). Unlike English, which relies heavily on syntactic inversion and auxiliary verbs, Uzbek interrogatives utilize inflectional morphemes to convey various question types, offering a distinctive approach to question formation. In both English and Uzbek, the formulation of questions serves as a tool for managing social relationships and conveying politeness. According to Brown and Levinson’s (1987) politeness theory, questions are often used to mitigate the imposition on the listener, especially in formal or uncertain contexts. For example, in English, the use of modal verbs like “could” or “would” softens the request, as in “Could you please help me?” Similarly, in Uzbek, politeness is achieved through the use of honorifics, such as “siz” (you, formal) and the use of indirect questioning techniques. The use of "mi" in questions can also serve a polite function, as it suggests uncertainty or a desire for confirmation, rather than a direct inquiry. Interrogative sentences in both languages are used not only to gather information but also to emphasize certain points or evoke a rhetorical response. For instance, in English, a rhetorical question like “Who doesn’t want to succeed?” seeks no actual answer but emphasizes the universality of the desire for success. Similarly, in Uzbek, rhetorical questions such as “Bu ishni kim qilishni xohlamaydi?” (Who wouldn’t want to do this task?) express strong emphasis and engage the listener in a shared perspective. The cultural context plays a crucial role in shaping the way questions are formed and interpreted in both languages. In English, especially in formal contexts, questions are often direct, and politeness is conveyed through modals or hedging phrases. However, in Uzbek, especially in informal or intimate settings, questions can be more indirect and rely on the use of diminutives, honorifics, and other cultural markers. These cultural differences reflect divergent communication styles: English tends to prioritize efficiency and directness in communication, while Uzbek emphasizes indirectness and respect for hierarchy, particularly in addressing elders or authority figures. Additionally, intercultural communication studies have shown that misunderstandings can arise when speakers from different cultural backgrounds use questions differently. For example, an Uzbek speaker might perceive a direct yes/no question in English as abrupt or even impolite, while an English speaker may interpret an indirect question in Uzbek as evasive or unclear. Such differences underscore the importance of understanding the pragmatic underpinnings of question formation in cross-cultural communication. In conclusion, the comparison of interrogative sentences in English and Uzbek reveals both commonalities and differences in their syntactic structures and pragmatic functions. While both languages use questions to seek information and manage discourse, they do so in linguistically distinct ways, reflecting their respective cultural and linguistic frameworks. This comparative analysis highlights the importance of understanding the syntactic and pragmatic intricacies of interrogatives in the context of language teaching, translation, and intercultural communication. By deepening our understanding of how questions function across languages, we can foster more effective communication and cross-cultural understanding in both professional and everyday interactions.