Specifics of Individual Style in The Wishes of Addressees of The Speech Genre of Condolences (on The Basis of Materials in Uzbek Language)

Abstract

The speech genre of condolence plays a critical role in expressing empathy, emotional solidarity, and social values across linguistic and cultural communities. In Uzbek linguoculture, this genre has evolved to include unique individual styles, particularly visible in Internet discourse, where condolences are publicly shared and influenced by socio-cultural and religious norms. However, limited attention has been given to the individualized linguistic expressions within condolence comments in online platforms, especially in relation to the personal and social status of the deceased. This study investigates the specific linguistic and communicative features of individual styles in condolence expressions within Uzbek online commentary, focusing on the wishes and address forms used for the late President Islam Karimov. The analysis reveals that condolence expressions involve lexical and grammatical features such as possessive suffixes, respectful pronouns, and religious prayers that reflect the speaker’s personal attitudes, cultural values, and the deceased’s status. The research highlights the polylinguistic and socio-pragmatic dimensions of condolence speech genres in digital spaces, illustrating the integration of religion, hierarchy, and linguistic creativity. These findings contribute to the sociolinguistic understanding of how empathy is linguistically constructed in contemporary Uzbek society and enrich genre theory with culturally embedded communicative practices.