Linguistic and Sociocultural Analysis of Nicknames in The Uzbek and German Anthroponymic Systems

Abstract

Personal names and their informal variants, such as nicknames, are deeply rooted in the cultural, social, and linguistic traditions of every society. In both Uzbek and German anthroponymic systems, nicknames serve as rich linguistic markers that reflect social identity, historical memory, and interpersonal relationships. Despite their prevalence, comparative analyses across cultures remain limited. While there is considerable research on formal naming traditions, the sociolinguistic and cultural functions of nicknames in comparative onomastics are underexplored, especially between typologically and culturally distinct languages like Uzbek and German. This study aims to examine the linguistic structure, cultural semantics, and social usage of nicknames in Uzbek and German societies, identifying both shared patterns and distinctive features. The analysis reveals that Uzbek nicknames are highly metaphorical, rooted in oral traditions, and reflect familial, geographic, or behavioral traits, while German nicknames tend to be structurally fixed and often evolve into formal surnames. Sociolinguistically, Uzbek nicknames foster community bonding and respect, whereas German ones mark social proximity and formality. An empirical survey among the Uzbek diaspora in Germany supports these findings, showing predominant nickname sources as physical attributes and behaviors. The comparative framework highlights how nicknames encode national identity and serve different pragmatic functions across cultures, offering insights into identity construction through informal naming. These findings contribute to cross-cultural onomastics and sociolinguistics, informing intercultural understanding and identity studies in multilingual contexts, particularly among migrant communities navigating between linguistic systems.