THE LEXICAL-SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF PHRASEOLOGICAL UNITS EXPRESSING NEGATIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES IN THE NOVEL OF “THE HEART OF THE MATTER” BY GRAHAM GREEN

Authors

  • Saidova Zulfizar Xudoyberdievna Author
  • Qiyomova Shokhida Shomurod kizi Author

Keywords:

Phraseology, lexical-semantic analysis, negative psychological states, somatic metaphors, Graham Greene, linguoculturology, emotional discourse.

Abstract

This thesis provides a lexical-semantic analysis of phraseological units (idioms and fixed expressions) that describe negative psychological states in English. The research addresses a fundamental human problem: how do we turn an invisible feeling into a visible, understandable phrase? The analysis reveals that the human body is the primary “map” for negative feelings. Through somatic phrases, emotions are localized in specific organs. Moreover, the research explores how negative states are treated as physical burdens or locations. To ground the theory in reality, the thesis analyzes the works of Graham Greene. This thesis demonstrates that phraseology is the “skin” of the human psyche. By deconstructing these idioms, the research offers a deeper understanding of how English speakers conceptualize suffering.

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References

1. Baldick, Chris. The Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. 4th ed., Oxford University Press, 2015.

2. Callow, Philip. Artemis to Actaeon: The Life of Graham Greene. Ivan R. Dee, 2003.

3. Crystal, David. The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language. 3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2018.

4. Greene, Graham. The Heart of the Matter. 1948. Penguin Classics, 2004.

5. Kövecses, Zoltán. Metaphor and Emotion: Language, Culture, and Body in Human Feeling. Cambridge University Press, 2000.

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Published

2026-01-07