INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION AND THE ROLE OF NATIONAL-CULTURAL REALIA IN TEACHING THE UZBEK LANGUAGE

Abstract

This article explores the importance of intercultural communication and the influence of national-cultural realia in the process of teaching the Uzbek language to foreign students. In today’s globalized world, language education extends beyond linguistic competence and incorporates cultural awareness as a fundamental component of communicative competence. The research highlights how national-specific realities—such as traditions, customs, values, and historical references—serve as essential tools in shaping meaningful intercultural dialogue and understanding. Drawing on examples from Uzbek culture, the study examines how integrating realia into language instruction improves students’ comprehension, engagement, and ability to interpret contextually rich expressions. The article emphasizes the necessity of culturally grounded language instruction to bridge the gap between learners’ native perspectives and the sociocultural framework of the target language. The findings have implications for philological education, language pedagogy, curriculum design, and international education policies.