Sociolinguistic Analysis of Imprecations Through Theoretical Lenses: A Comparative Study Across Uzbek, Russian, And English Societies

Abstract

This article explores the sociolinguistic significance of imprecations (curses) as a discursive practice embedded in cultural norms, gender dynamics, and power structures. Through an integrated comparison of the theoretical insights of William Labov, Erving Goffman, Deborah Tannen, Janet Holmes, Michel Foucault, Pierre Bourdieu, and Judith Butler, the study evaluates how curses function as expressions of identity, resistance, and social control in Uzbek, Russian, and English-speaking societies. Using a comparative sociolinguistic methodology, it demonstrates how curses operate across social strata, genders, and communicative contexts. The findings underscore the performative, symbolic, and stratifying functions of imprecations, while revealing their discursive potential to resist and reproduce social hierarchies.