POLYSEMY IN ENGLISH AND UZBEK LANGUAGE: THE PROBLEM OF MEANING SELECTION IN THE TRANSLATION PROCESS

Abstract

This article examines polysemy in English and Uzbek with a particular focus on the problem of meaning selection in the translation process. Polysemy, defined as the presence of multiple semantically related meanings within a single lexical item, compels translators to choose among competing meanings depending on context. The study approaches polysemy not merely as a lexical phenomenon but as a decisive factor influencing translators’ decision-making. Through the analysis of English and Uzbek polysemous units, the article explores the roles of context, semantic fields, and equivalence, and reveals how incorrect meaning selection leads to translation errors.