A comparative analysis of hyperbole as a figurative language device in English and Karakalpak novels

Maqolada ingliz va qoraqalpoq romanlarida badiiy tasvir vositasi sifatida qo‘llanadigan giperbola F. Skott Fitsjeraldning «Buyuk Getsbi» va M. Nizanovning «Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar» asarlari misolida qiyosiy tahlil qilinadi. Tadqiqotda giperbolik ifodalar his-tuyg‘ularni kuchaytirish, personajlar kechinmalariga urg‘u berish hamda ijtimoiy va psixologik mazmunni yetkazish uchun qanday qo‘llanishi o‘rganiladi. Ikki adabiy an‘anada giperbola qo‘llanishidagi o‘xshashlik va farqlarga alohida e‘tibor qaratiladi. Tahlilda giperbolik ifodalarning adabiy kontekstdagi semantik, stilistik va kommunikativ vazifalari ko‘rib chiqiladi. Tadqiqot giperbola nafaqat bo‘rttirish vositasi, balki kuchli his-tuyg‘ularni ifodalash, personajlarni tavsiflash hamda badiiy tilning obrazliligi va ta‘sirchanligini kuchaytirishning muhim usuli ekanini ko‘rsatadi. Ingliz va qoraqalpoq romanlaridan olingan misollarni qiyoslash orqali giperbolik ifodaning ham universal, ham madaniyatga xos xususiyatlari yoritib beriladi.

R E S E A RC H F O C US xalqaro ilmiy jurnali hamkorligida

QR-kod maqolaning DOI sahifasini ochadi SAHIFALAR TIL 498–503 Ingliz IQTIBOS UCHUN Dauletbaeva Mexriban Dastanovna, Badirova Dilfuza Asamatdinovna. A comparative analysis of hyperbole as a figurative language device in English and Karakalpak novels // «O‘zbekiston olima ayollarining mamlakat taraqqiyotiga qo‘shayotgan hissasi» mavzusidagi xalqaro ilmiy-amaliy konferensiya materiallari (Nukus, 2026- yil 9–10-oktyabr). – Nukus, 2026. – B. 498–503. – DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.66073/ReFocus-Conf/0910093

«O‘zbekiston olima ayollarining mamlakat taraqqiyotiga qo‘shayotgan hissasi» XALQARO ILMIY-AMALIY KONFERENSIYA NUKUS, 9–10-OKT YABR 2026

A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF HYPERBOLE AS A FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE DEVICE IN ENGLISH AND KARAKALPAK NOVELS Dauletbaeva Mexriban Dastanovna Master’s student in Linguistics (English) 2nd year Karakalpak State University Aydos7752@gmail.com

Badirova Dilfuza Asamatdinovna Research supervisor Abstract: This article presents a comparative analysis of hyperbole as a figurative language device in English and Karakalpak novels, focusing on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar. The study examines how hyperbolic expressions are used to intensify emotions, emphasize characters’ experiences, and convey social and psychological meanings. Particular attention is given to the similarities and differences in the use of hyperbole in the two literary traditions. The analysis considers the semantic, stylistic, and communicative functions of hyperbolic expressions within their literary contexts. The study demonstrates that hyperbole serves not only as a means of exaggeration but also as an important device for expressing strong emotions, characterizing individuals, and strengthening the figurative and expressive power of literary language. By comparing examples from English and Karakalpak novels, the research highlights both universal and culturally specific features of hyperbolic expression.

Keywords: hyperbole, figurative language, comparative analysis, English literature, Karakalpak literature, novels, literary devices, expressive language Introduction Figurative language plays an important role in literary texts because it enables writers to express ideas, emotions, and experiences in an imaginative and expressive way. Unlike literal language, figurative language often conveys meanings that go beyond the direct meaning of words. Among the various figurative language devices, hyperbole occupies a significant place in literary discourse. It is generally understood as an intentional exaggeration used to emphasize an idea, emotion, quality, or situation. Through exaggeration, writers can make descriptions more vivid and draw the reader’s attention to particular aspects of a character or event.

Hyperbole is frequently used in novels to represent strong emotional experiences and to strengthen the expressive power of narration. It can reveal characters’ attitudes, desires, fears, expectations, and psychological states. In addition, hyperbolic expressions may reflect social and cultural perspectives because the ways in which emotions and experiences are exaggerated can vary across literary traditions. Therefore, examining hyperbole from a comparative perspective can provide valuable insights into both the universal and culture-specific features of figurative language. English and Karakalpak literature provide a valuable basis for such a comparison. Although the two literary traditions have developed within different historical, cultural, and linguistic contexts, both employ figurative language to create NUKUS · 2026

expressive and meaningful literary representations. A comparative study of hyperbole can therefore help identify similarities in the ways writers intensify meaning as well as differences resulting from linguistic and cultural characteristics. This study focuses on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar. These novels provide examples of figurative X A L Q A R O I L M I Y- A M A L I Y K O N F E R E N S I YA

and expressive language through which characters, emotions, relationships, and life experiences are represented. The study particularly examines hyperbolic expressions and considers their semantic and stylistic functions within the two novels. The main aim of this research is to comparatively analyze hyperbole as a figurative language device in English and Karakalpak novels. The study seeks to identify the main forms and functions of hyperbole, examine how hyperbolic expressions contribute to characterization and emotional expression, and determine the similarities and differences between their use in English and Karakalpak literary contexts. In doing so, the research contributes to a better understanding of the role of hyperbole in literary discourse and the relationship between language, culture, and « O ‘ Z B E K I S T O N O L I M A AY O L L A R I N I N G M A M L A K AT T A R A Q Q I Y O T I G A Q O ‘ S H AY O T G A N H I S S A S I »

literary expression. Methods This study employs a qualitative comparative approach to examine the use of hyperbole as a figurative language device in English and Karakalpak novels. The primary literary sources are F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar. These works were selected because they contain expressive descriptions of characters, emotions, relationships, and social experiences that provide relevant material for the analysis of figurative language. The data were collected through close reading of the two novels. During the reading process, expressions that demonstrate intentional exaggeration were identified and recorded. Each identified example was examined within its immediate literary context to determine whether the exaggeration performs a meaningful stylistic or communicative function. The analysis focuses primarily on four aspects: the linguistic form of hyperbole, its semantic meaning, its stylistic function, and its role in expressing emotions or character characteristics. The identified examples are classified according to their contextual functions, such as intensifying emotions, emphasizing personal qualities, describing situations, and expressing psychological experiences. A comparative analysis was then conducted to identify similarities and differences in the use of hyperbole in the two novels. Particular attention was paid to the ways linguistic and cultural contexts influence the meaning and function of hyperbolic expressions. The English examples were analyzed in their original context, while the Karakalpak examples were examined according to their original literary and cultural context.

The study does not rely primarily on quantitative statistical analysis. Instead, it interprets the selected examples according to their meanings and functions in the literary texts. This qualitative method makes it possible to examine not only the occurrence of hyperbole but also its contribution to characterization, emotional expression, imagery, and the overall expressive effect of the novels. NUKUS · 2026

Results The analysis of hyperbole in M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby revealed that exaggeration is actively used in both novels to strengthen the expressive and emotional impact of literary language. X A L Q A R O I L M I Y- A M A L I Y K O N F E R E N S I YA

Five representative hyperbolic expressions were identified in each literary work. The analysis demonstrates that these expressions primarily function to intensify emotions, emphasize personal qualities, describe situations, and create vivid literary images. In Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar, hyperbole is particularly prominent in the representation of love and interpersonal relationships. The expression “Менин бир-ақ нызамым бар — ол сен!” presents the beloved as the speaker’s only “law.” The statement is not intended literally; rather, it exaggerates the importance of the beloved and emphasizes the intensity of the speaker’s emotional attachment. Another example, “Хеш ким Ханзаданың гөззаллиғын, оның адамыйлық « O ‘ Z B E K I S T O N O L I M A AY O L L A R I N I N G M A M L A K AT T A R A Q Q I Y O T I G A Q O ‘ S H AY O T G A N H I S S A S I »

пазыйлетлерин тәкирарлай алмас еди,” presents Hanzada’s beauty and human qualities as incomparable. The absolute nature of the statement intensifies her characterization and expresses strong admiration.

Hyperbole is also used to intensify descriptions of situations in the Karakalpak novel. The expression “Аяқ соқпақ та қәдәм қойып болмайтуғын дәрежеге келген екен” exaggerates the poor condition of the path by suggesting that it has become almost impossible to walk on. In addition, the expression “...күннен-күнге гүрлеп алысар еди” presents the development of an emotional feeling as an increasingly powerful process. The figurative exaggeration makes the emotional change more vivid for the reader. Similarly, “Сексен жасар усындай кемпир қайда бар!” functions as an exaggerated expression of admiration, emphasizing the woman’s beauty despite her advanced age.

Five corresponding examples were identified in The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald uses hyperbolic language to represent Gatsby’s dreams, emotions, personality, and material world. The expression “the colossal vitality of his illusion” emphasizes the enormous power of Gatsby’s idealized dream. The adjective “colossal” intensifies the abstract concept of illusion and shows that Gatsby’s dream has become exceptionally powerful in his life. Another expression, “It had gone beyond her, beyond everything,” further emphasizes the distance between Gatsby’s idealized vision and reality. The exaggeration suggests that his dream has developed beyond the actual person of Daisy and beyond the limits of ordinary experience.

Fitzgerald also employs exaggerated descriptions in characterization. Gatsby’s smile is described as possessing “a quality of eternal reassurance,” which intensifies its emotional effect on other people. The description of Gatsby as resembling “a machine registering the approach of an earthquake ten thousand miles away” similarly exaggerates his sensitivity and ability to perceive the world around him. In addition, Gatsby’s mansion is described as “a colossal affair,” emphasizing its extraordinary size, appearance, and association with wealth and extravagance. The results therefore show that both Nizanov and Fitzgerald use hyperbole to move beyond literal description and produce a stronger emotional and imaginative NUKUS · 2026

effect. In the Karakalpak novel, the identified examples are especially associated with love, admiration, beauty, and interpersonal emotions, whereas in The Great Gatsby, hyperbole is frequently connected with idealized love, dreams, wealth, personality, and the contrast between illusion and reality. Despite these differences, the findings demonstrate a common literary function: hyperbole strengthens the X A L Q A R O I L M I Y- A M A L I Y K O N F E R E N S I YA

meaning of an expression and helps the reader perceive the emotional or conceptual significance of a character, situation, or experience more intensely. Discussion The comparative analysis of hyperbolic expressions in M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby demonstrates that hyperbole is an important figurative language device in both literary works. Despite the differences between the Karakalpak and English literary contexts, both authors employ exaggeration to intensify emotions, emphasize personal qualities, and create vivid literary images. At the same time, the contextual functions of hyperbole reveal « O ‘ Z B E K I S T O N O L I M A AY O L L A R I N I N G M A M L A K AT T A R A Q Q I Y O T I G A Q O ‘ S H AY O T G A N H I S S A S I »

several differences between the two novels.

In Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar, hyperbole is particularly noticeable in the representation of love, beauty, and emotional experiences. For example, the statement “Менин бир-ақ нызамым бар — ол сен!” (“I have only one law — it is you”) presents the beloved as the speaker’s only “law.” Literally, a person cannot be a law; therefore, the expression intensifies the speaker’s feelings and emphasizes the exceptional importance of the beloved. A comparable emotional exaggeration can be found in The Great Gatsby, where Gatsby’s feelings for Daisy are represented through the description of the “colossal vitality of his illusion.” Fitzgerald presents Gatsby’s idealized image of Daisy as something enormously powerful, extending beyond Daisy herself and “beyond everything.” This comparison shows that both authors use exaggeration to portray love as an exceptionally powerful emotional experience.

A second similarity concerns the exaggeration of beauty and personal qualities. In Nizanov’s novel, the statement “Хеш ким Ханзаданың гөззаллиғын, оның адамыйлық пазыйлетлерин тәкирарлай алмас еди” emphasizes that nobody could equal Hanzada’s beauty and human qualities. The absolute formulation strengthens her positive characterization. In Fitzgerald’s novel, Gatsby’s smile is similarly described in an exaggerated manner as having “a quality of eternal reassurance” and as facing “the whole external world.” The description goes beyond a literal account of a smile and presents Gatsby as possessing an almost extraordinary ability to affect other people. Thus, in both novels, hyperbolic description contributes to characterization by presenting a person as exceptional. The third comparison concerns the representation of emotional intensity. Nizanov describes the development of Nursulıw’s feelings through the expression “күннен-күнге гүрлеп алысар еди,” which presents the emotion as becoming increasingly powerful. The figurative exaggeration gives the feeling a dynamic quality and allows the reader to perceive its growth. Fitzgerald also represents Gatsby’s emotional world through intensified imagery. The phrase “It had gone beyond her, beyond everything” indicates that Gatsby’s idealized dream has exceeded the limits of NUKUS · 2026

reality. In both cases, exaggeration demonstrates that an emotion has moved beyond an ordinary or controllable level. Another difference can be observed in the description of physical conditions and situations. In Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar, “Аяқ соқпақ та қәдәм қойып болмайтуғын дәрежеге келген екен” exaggerates the poor condition of a path, X A L Q A R O I L M I Y- A M A L I Y K O N F E R E N S I YA

suggesting that it has become almost impossible to walk on. The function of the expression is primarily descriptive: it helps the reader imagine the seriousness of the physical situation. In The Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald frequently uses exaggeration in descriptions of wealth, physical surroundings, and social life. For example, Gatsby’s mansion is described as a “colossal affair,” while other descriptions of his world employ unusually large-scale imagery. Such exaggeration reflects the novel’s broader representation of wealth, luxury, and excess. Conclusion The present study has examined the use of hyperbole as a figurative language « O ‘ Z B E K I S T O N O L I M A AY O L L A R I N I N G M A M L A K AT T A R A Q Q I Y O T I G A Q O ‘ S H AY O T G A N H I S S A S I »

device in M. Nizanov’s Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby from a comparative perspective. The analysis demonstrates that hyperbole plays an important role in both novels by intensifying meaning, expressing emotions, strengthening characterization, and creating vivid literary descriptions. The findings indicate that the two authors employ hyperbole for several similar purposes, particularly in representing love, admiration, personal qualities, and intense emotional experiences. At the same time, differences can be observed in the contexts in which hyperbolic expressions are used. In Ashıq bolmaǵan kim bar, hyperbole is closely associated with interpersonal relationships, love, beauty, and emotional evaluation. In The Great Gatsby, it is more frequently connected with Gatsby’s idealized dreams, wealth, personality, and the conflict between illusion and reality. The study also demonstrates that hyperbole often interacts with other figurative language devices, including metaphor, imagery, and symbolism. Therefore, its interpretation requires attention not only to the individual expression but also to its broader literary context. The comparison of English and Karakalpak literary texts shows that hyperbole has a universal expressive function while its particular realization can be influenced by linguistic, cultural, and literary characteristics. In conclusion, the comparative study of hyperbole contributes to a deeper understanding of figurative language in English and Karakalpak literature. The findings suggest that examining hyperbole across different literary traditions can reveal both common patterns of human emotional expression and culture-specific ways of constructing literary meaning.