Linguistic Matters of Intercultural Communication

This article explores the linguistic matters of intercultural communication, paying special attention to how language functions as both a bridge and a barrier between cultures. The paper investigates phonological, lexical, grammatical, and pragmatic dimensions of communication and provides concrete examples from English and Uzbek languages. It demonstrates how misunderstandings can occur when sounds are mispronounced, culturally bound words are mistranslated, grammar rules are misapplied, or pragmatic conventions are misinterpreted. By employing descriptive and comparative methods, the study argues that intercultural competence—understood as the integration of linguistic knowledge and cultural awareness—is essential for achieving successful communication in global contexts.