Semantic Asymmetry and Evaluative Content

This article examines semantic asymmetry and evaluative content as expressed through antonymic constructions. It demonstrates that semantic oppositions are not always symmetrical; one term often dominates over the other in terms of genre frequency, emotional charge, and cognitive prominence. Using frame semantics and corpus analysis, the study identifies which lexeme functions as the evaluative center in pairs such as “ҳалол – ҳаром,” “пок – ифлос,” and “дўст – душман.” Associative testing confirms that negatively marked terms tend to activate more extensive frame elements. The study reveals that semantic asymmetry is often driven by value judgments, cultural debates, and stereotypical reasoning.