Cosmetology Terminology in Transition: A Comparative Study of Uzbek and English Neologisms

Abstract

With the global expansion of the beauty and skincare industry, the field of cosmetology has witnessed a rapid proliferation of specialized terminology driven by innovation, marketing, and science. English, as the dominant language of the global beauty industry, is a primary source of neologisms that are widely adopted across linguistic borders, including in Uzbek. However, the mechanisms of term integration and the sociolinguistic implications of such borrowing remain underexplored. Despite the growing prevalence of English-based cosmetic terminology in non-English-speaking contexts, limited research has systematically compared how such terms are adapted linguistically and culturally within Uzbek. This study aims to analyze and compare neologisms in English and Uzbek within the cosmetology domain, examining lexical formation, borrowing patterns, and sociolinguistic influences. The findings reveal that English serves as a major source of cosmetology neologisms, while Uzbek adapts these through calques, hybrid formations, descriptive phrases, and direct borrowings. The influence of globalization, language prestige, education, and media contributes to a hybrid lexicon in Uzbek, where localized terms coexist with borrowed ones. The study provides a cross-linguistic perspective on how professional terminology evolves in response to global trends, offering a detailed classification of Uzbek adaptive strategies and a sociolinguistic interpretation of term adoption. Understanding the lexical and sociocultural dynamics of neologism integration can aid language policymakers, educators, and professionals in developing standardized, culturally resonant terminology for emerging fields such as cosmetology.