First, an announcement: published poet and contributor Tao Yucheng would like to host and judge a poetry contest open to all readers of Synchronized Chaos Magazine.

Synchronized Chaos Poetry Contest

We seek short, powerful, imaginative, and strange poetry. While we welcome all forms of free verse and subject matter, we prefer concise work that makes an impact.

Guidelines: Submit up to five poems per person to taoyucheng921129@proton.me. Each poem should not exceed one page (ideally half a page or less). All styles and themes welcome

Prizes: First Place: $50 Second Place: $10, payable via online transfer. One Honorable Mention. Selected finalists will be published in future issues of Synchronized Chaos

Good luck, if you choose to enter!

Now, for this month’s issue: The Stories We Tell Ourselves. We explore communication, relationships, myth, history, imagination – different ways of making meaning from life.

Dildora Abdullayeva considers the study of phrases as a part of human language and how phrases have changed over the years. Toychiyeva Madinaxon points out how young people are changing global language through Internet slang. Habibullayeva Lalyokhon Zarifjon kizi explores cultural and linguistic features of phrases in the Uzbek language. Rashidova Shohshanam speaks to the rapid changes in the Uzbek language and the challenges and opportunities that poses for educators. Noah Berlatsky reflects with humor on how our brains’ memory for language might shrink with modernity.

Dildora Qobilova suggests common student grammatical errors and ways to correct them in the classroom. Yarmamatova Sevinch Elyor qizi suggests ways to enhance young children’s speech fluency. Suyarova Gulsanam explicates finer points of Uzbek grammar for audiences speaking all languages. Abulqosimova Bahora highlights the intricacies of the phonetic system of the Uzbek language. Muqaddas Islomova highlights the role of multimedia digital technologies in helping language learners enhance their speech skills. Shamsiddinova Maftuna Hamidjon qizi gives an overview of academic studies into the structure and functions of different parts of speech. Adashaliyeva Durdona Akramjon qizi highlights the central role of linguistics in reinforcing the values of a socialist society. Rukhshona Kamolova Turayeva highlights the importance of studying the history and role of the English language to understanding effective communication. Sharifov Sirojiddin Shavkatovich underscores the critical importance of basic math literacy to social functioning. Satimboyeva Risolet outlines educational benefits of AI technologies in education.

Kucharov Bakhodir outlines principles of written and spoken professional communication. Dilnoza Bekmurodovna Navruzbekovna urges people to carefully consider what career would be right for them, and for schools to facilitate that deliberation. Aslidinova O’giloy highlights the potential of a digital economy and the need to prepare students for that world. Sarvar Eshpulatov also highlights the importance of digital literacy for success in today’s society. Niyozova Shakhnoza Farhod qizi elucidates the potential of digital technologies in education. Iroda Sobirova offers suggestions for fostering entrepreneurship in Central Asia and elsewhere. Choliyev Nurbek Rözimbek ogli highlights the importance of local banks in trusting in the creditworthiness of local entrepreneurs. Eshmurodova Sevinch Bahrom qizi outlines steps credit card bureaus can take to ensure consumer security. Urinova Robiyabonu discusses the use of psychology in professional management. Qarshiboyeva Mavluda Azizbek qizi analyzes the role of international assessment exams in world education. Abduvaliyeva Jasmina Jahongir qizi outlines some upsides and downsides of economic and cultural globalization.

Satimboyeva Rizolat discusses how to develop a social culture of reading and literary appreciation that goes beyond the classroom. Aziza Xasanova highlights the joy and creativity and history of the Uzbek mother tongue. Qudratova Nozima Bahromovna outlines the innovative narrative storytelling techniques of Uzbek author Tog’ay Murod.

Lakshmi Kant Mukul shares some of a people’s history of India through the lens of one architectural landmark, the Qutub Minar. Alan Catlin renders the historical, somnolent, stuck atmosphere of the American Rust Belt into poetry. Xudoyberdiyeva Mohiniso delves into the Islamic Turkish Kara-Khanid state, which reached its height in the 700s. Duane Vorhees traces a variety of Jewish mystical influences on Sigmund Freud. Chimezie Ihekuna relates how the modern Nigerian state came together as a result of colonial powers and bears little relation to cultural realities, causing a legacy of trouble. Jacques Fleury reviews Boston Lyric Stage’s production of a mashup of Sherlock Holmes and A Christmas Carol, providing two different lenses through which to interpret Victorian England. Qulliyeva Feruza Qosimova highlights the role of the Uzbek constitution in guiding contemporary society.

Mahbub Alam reflects with nostalgia on his high school days: friends, teachers, the school environment. Mesfakus Salahin revels in the wonder of childhood and memory. Sobirjonova Rayhona expresses gratitude to a dedicated teacher.

Olga Levadnaya speaks to the ‘halo effect’ of memory, where we remember the best parts of what happened to us. Dr. Jernail S. Anand considers his memories to be friends. Taghrid Bou Merhi holds onto the hazy and charming days of childhood and dreams. Mandy Diamantou Pistikou reminds us of the innocence and joyful curiosity of early childhood. Meanwhile, Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal speaks to the feelings, thoughts, and sensations of middle age.

Taro Hokkyo brings to life a moment of deep soul recognition among two different people. Turkan Ergor wonders at the vast diversity of people’s life experiences, given our common humanity. Dr. Kang Byeong-Cheol reminds us of the ingredients of love: wisdom, compassion, and humility. Mrinal Kanti Ghosh reflects on a love that captures his soul and disrupts his consciousness.

Mohan Maharana also writes of compassion, speaking of his work as a healer and social worker coming alongside people living with mental illness. Juana Del Carmen Soria urges people to make wise and caring choices. Asmonur Rajabboyeva, in a piece translated into English by Shuxratova Nilufar, draws on a chamomile flower as a symbol for innocence and compassion. Eva Petropoulou Lianou puts out an urgent call for global peace. Dianne Reeves Angel looks beyond the commercialism of Christmas to seek out spiritual gifts of peace and love and hope. Brajesh Kumar Gupta affirms that goodness is so much stronger than evil. Zuhra Jumanazarova highlights the critical role of the Uzbek constitution in the country’s governance and respect for internationally recognized human rights. Eva Petropoulou Lianou laments the violence and selfishness of humanity, in poetry translated into Mandarin by Yongbo Ma. Pat Doyne mocks corruption in the United States’ federal government. Bill Tope argues against gambling from a social justice perspective. Yongbo Ma also translates a poem from Ahmed Farooq Baidoon on the weary quest of all too many people for justice. Brendan Dawson sketches some of society’s outsiders – immigrants and poets – and reflects on how society has become less welcoming.

Sayani Mukherjee wishes an old lover well with their new love during the holidays, while still acknowledging her sorrow. Abdulhafiz Iduoze speaks to the cycle of life and death in her imagistic poem. Kemal Berk yearns for a lost loved one through verse. Aisha Al-Maharabi evokes the pain of loss and longing in love. Graciela Noemi Villaverde mourns the loss of her husband of many years through poetry. Abigail George renders cautious and loving care for her father with cancer into thoughtful and slow poetry. Farzaneh Dorri pays tribute to a departed human rights lawyer.

Mirta Liliana Ramirez grieves the loss of someone who suffered much and had a difficult life. Sumaiyya Alessmael mourns the passing of her immortal, fanciful beloved. Milana Momcilovic evokes centuries of timeless longing for a lost love. Salimeh Mousavi probes probes a family’s grief to create a complex and layered character sketch and to mourn for parts of individual personhood severed by culture.

Shikdar Mohammed Kibriah speaks to the kind of immortality we find in nature, where one kind of creature lives because of the existence of another. Brian Barbeito relates a late autumn nature walk that left him feeling mystical and thinking of angels and a winter walk with friendly coyotes. Dr. Jernail Singh reminds proud humans of nature’s limits, checks, and balances. Toraqulova Pokiza Sanjarovna highlights the importance of living and working sustainability with nature during climate change. Avazbekova Rayyonakhon outlines some ways young people can work with “nature” close to us, our own bodies, and enhance immunity and stay healthier. Mahmmadjonov Saidjahon Shokirjon ogli and Mirzamansurova Robiya Ahmadjon qizi discuss clinical criteria elucidating when patients need heart valve transplants. Numonova Shohsanam Bahodirjon qizi presents an overview of the causes and effects of genetic mutation. Sejuty Rahman draws on an oyster fashioning an irritating grain of sand into a pearl as part of an extended natural metaphor for love.

Kavi Nielsen poetically expresses a sense of unity and connection with nature and their loved one. Shawn Schooley celebrates the sensual attraction he feels for his lover. Jamal Garougar speaks to the submergence of egos and unity with a broader whole inherent in love.

Petros Kyriakou Veloudas depicts love, grief, and memory feeding into the artistic process. Ana Elisa Medina encourages someone close to her to sing and share his heart’s journey. Kandy Fontaine reflects on how Motorhead frontman Lemmy inspired her artistically and personally.

Dianne Reeves Angel celebrates the joy of intentional female connection and friendship over many years. Priyanka Neogi reminds women and girls to remember their insight and strength. Amirah al-Wassif’s surreal poetry speaks to womanhood and our relationship with our bodies and minds.

J.J. Campbell shrugs and finds himself in a place of dull resignation, even at the holiday season, and renders his feelings into poems. Alan Hardy speaks to the vulnerability of being alone, whether in the wild or in his own mind, and how he protects himself by letting go of regret. Santiago Burdon depicts some misadventures along the road of guiding an emerging writer towards greater originality.

Richard LeDue captures a feeling common to many creators: seasons of wandering through a morass of scanty inspiration. Mykyta Ryzhykh expresses deep inner emotional pain through vivid imagery. Sara Hunt-Flores evokes the limits of the poetic muse for dealing with extreme emotions. Anna Keiko embarks on a tender journey of self-discovery.

Patrick Sweeney captures moments of revealing character development through one-line monostitch poetry. Christina Chin and Jerome Berglund depict small moments when people are captivated by small pleasures. Zebo Zukhriddinova celebrates the fun and the spontaneous organization of a day students spent folding and flying paper airplanes. Christina Chin depicts brief moments of peace and contemplation at Thanksgiving. Taylor Dibbert highlights the culinary creativity evinced by Thanksgiving meals. Asmonur Rajabboyeva’s short story, translated from Uzbek to English by Shuxratova Nilufar, details an imaginative and curious young girl’s travel to Mars.

Mark Young expresses fascination with arbitrary liminality, how we attempt to classify the world. Duane Vorhees reflects on natural and human moments of energy and transition, such as thunderstorms, from a comfortable distance that lets him think and react with wonder.

We hope this issue brings wonder, new thoughts, and empathy to your life.

Meeting Myself

A door unknown

You are led inside

To where night has yet to fall

In There, you meet yourself

You tread along a steep, winding mountain path

No flowers in sight, nor does it lead to the other shore

With threads of thorns

Weave an indescribable language

November 30, 2025

I AM STILL A CHILD… THERE

I am still a child,

Running after a butterfly

That escapes the light of my hands.

I laugh,

And the fields laugh with me,

While the sun dangles

From the braids of time.

I draw on the soil

A tiny house

Whose windows all open

Onto my little festivals.

I gather pebbles,

As if filling my pocket

With tiny stars

That stay awake with me until sleep.

I ride the wind

And shout:

Hurry…

I want to outrun my shadow.

My knees get dirty with mud,

And I laugh even more,

As if the earth is embracing me,

Whispering:

You grew up… yet you did not grow old.

I run,

And my laughter follows me,

Tangling in the air

Like the strings of a kite

Afraid to fall.

I catch the rainbow,

And swear

I was not dreaming

I was only stretching my hand

A little further

To touch the impossible.

And to this day,

Whenever I close my eyes,

I see that little girl

Running toward me,

Saying:

Come…

The play is not over yet.

BEYOND PRESENCE

There would be no shadow

Had things not remembered their first light,

And I would not write you

Had absence not awakened me

With a sound resembling the soul’s return to itself.

In the space where time does not exist,

The question walks barefoot,

Searching for a meaning

Like a pulse without a body,

Or a dream

Unsure whether it is seen,

Or merely recalls having seen us before.

There,

Where the beginning meets the end,

Silence rises like an ancient sage,

Smiles at our bewilderment,

And says:

“Everything you lose returns,

But in a form you do not recognize.”

I sit within myself,

As if listening to a breath

The soul retrieves from a depth

Beyond life and death,

And beyond the notion that the universe has a face

We see only when we close our hearts.

And in the moment when thought becomes weightless,

And pain turns transparent,

I understand that presence

Is not what we live,

But what passes through us

And leaves its trace,

As if it were the only truth

That never grows old.

 

Taghrid Bou Merhi is a Lebanese–Brazilian poet, translator, editor, and literary figure whose voice has become a bridge between cultures across the Arab world, Latin America, Asia, and Europe. Born in Lebanon and residing in Brazil, she has built a distinguished career marked by linguistic mastery, artistic depth, and a commitment to intercultural dialogue. Fluent in multiple languages, she has translated 49 books and more than two thousand poems, articles, interviews, and critical texts, making her one of the most prolific Arab translators of her generation.

Bou Merhi is the author of twenty-three books spanning poetry, short stories, essays, and children’s literature. Her works—known for their lyrical intensity and philosophical resonance—have been translated into forty-seven languages and included in over two hundred international anthologies. She has participated in nearly fifty global anthologies with poems and reviews, and her contributions frequently appear in international magazines, newspapers, and literary platforms.

Her editorial experience is equally extensive. Bou Merhi serves as President of CIESART Lebanon and holds leading positions in several cultural and literary organizations around the world. She has acted as an international judge for the Walt Whitman competition for three consecutive years and is a prominent officer for international cultural relations in multiple global institutions. She has also served as Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Raseef 81 Magazine and currently works as a contributing editor for Pencraft Literary Magazine.

Throughout her career, Taghrid Bou Merhi has received numerous prestigious international awards honoring both her poetry and her translation achievements, including the Naji Naaman Award, the Nizar Sartawi Translation Award, and the Nian Zhang Cup Prize. Her writing is recognized for its emotional richness, philosophical depth, and unwavering commitment to humanistic values. Today, she continues to promote cultural exchange through her poetry, translations, and global literary engagements.

‘Mesopotamia’

the histories I had to unlearn

     *

nothing in the way of thunder at sea

     *

scapulars worn on both sides

     *

he wondered if she kept the picture of him

shaking hands with an octopus

     *

encyclicals of yellow falling leaves

     *

somehow he missed seeing the preserved right index finger of Saint Teresa

     *

counting jimmy-legs in the waiting room

     *

sad sagging man-boobs of the subway shooter

     *

he’s philosophically aligned with the quotes on herbal tea bags

     *

a folded dishrag above his dogmatically clean sink

     *

auditing the billowing clouds

     *

even in a place of no escape

there are analog leaks of light

     *

the boy in the last row

says he always stares at the sun

     *

an hour after the eclipse

the whole moon to myself

     *

it’s like an urgent announcement I can’t quite hear

     *

Luv

That day evening fell in the midst of the forest
Like a bird, I too spread my dreamy wings near distance in the gentle breeze
That winding high and low path
That shadows of the trees, playing blind-man’s- buff
Painted secret kisses in the eyes of the darkness
The lorn fascinating oyster separated from water was in the grip of my hand.
The unique pearl called Luv
Shaped with layers of pain–an expression of pure, sincere love
A mind yearning for union wants to be an oyster, sometimes a pearl.

Sejuty Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Economics in Soronjay Degree College, Tanore, Rajshahi. She writes poems and short stories. She has published three books of poems in Bangla. At present she is living at Rajshahi town, Bangladesh.

When Love Meets Us                                  
                                                          
Everyone longs for love,
searching far for its radiant flame.
But love is not a roadside gem,
nor found in sunsets or science’s name.
 
It hides not in beauty’s shallow face,
but calls from deeper, higher grace.
A rose blooms when love is near,
fed by care, sunlight, and cheer.
 
Love is compassion, gentle and true,
without which no life can renew.
Beyond the fence, a rose may say:
“I see love, I hear love, I love it each day.”
 
Its price is not wealth, nor power’s disguise,
but pride surrendered, and hearts made wise.
Love does not come from law or decree,
It blooms within, where the soul is free. 

Poet Dr. Kang, Byeong-Cheol is a Korean author and poet, born in Jeju City, South Korea, in 1964. He began writing in 1993, publishing his first short story, “Song of Shuba,” at the age of twenty-nine. He released a collection of short stories in 2005 and has since won eight literature awards and published more than twelve books. From 2009 to 2014, he served as a member of The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International. Additionally, he worked as an editorial writer for JeminIlbo, a newspaper in Jeju City, Korea. He holds a PhD in Political Science and currently serves as the Vice President of The Korean Institute for Peace and Cooperation and vice president of Jeju PEN. Moreover, he holds the position of founding President of the Korean Association of World Literature.

Methods for Improving the Conceptual Foundations of Speech Act Theory in the Uzbek Language

Shamsiddinova Maftuna Hamidjon qizi

Master’s student in Uzbek Language and Literature

Namangan State Pedagogical Institute

Phone: +998-94-755-00-10

Abstract

This article analyzes the formation, development, and practical application of speech act theory in the Uzbek language. The necessity of improving the conceptual foundations of speech act theory in accordance with modern communicative needs is substantiated. Based on approaches such as intercultural pragmatics, cognitive linguistics, and communicative competence, the article proposes new methodological ways of studying speech acts in the Uzbek language. In addition, the practical application of speech act theory is examined in the context of digital communication and artificial intelligence.

Keywords

Speech act, pragmatics, illocution, perlocution, communicative competence, Uzbek language, cognitive approach, intercultural communication, digital linguistics, context.

Introduction

In the 1950s, the English philosopher J. L. Austin proposed the idea that language is not merely a means of transmitting information, but also a tool for performing actions in real life. He justified this philosophy in his well-known work “How to Do Things with Words.” While the origins of speech act theory are associated with Austin, J. Searle later significantly refined and developed this theory. During the 1960s and 1970s, the American scholar J. Searle strengthened the theory by identifying the structure and types of speech acts.

When discussing speech act theory, it becomes evident that language is not simply a collection of words or a tool for conveying information, but also performs a variety of other functions. These characteristics of language were thoroughly analyzed and studied by J. Austin and J. Searle. According to them, language performs actions in addition to transmitting information. At first glance, this idea may seem unusual, as it raises the question of how something inanimate can perform actions. However, these actions are not physical but cognitive in nature and occur through human consciousness.

A deeper understanding of this phenomenon can be achieved through the analysis of literary texts.

Main Part

According to J. L. Austin, speech acts are divided into three main types: 1. Locutionary act – the literal meaning of an utterance.2. Illocutionary act – the speaker’s intention or purpose in uttering the statement.3. Perlocutionary act – the effect of the utterance on the listener.

As can be seen, all three types of acts are closely interconnected and mutually dependent. Each speech act can be analyzed from all three perspectives. For example, consider the following sentence from Said Ahmad’s short story “Sobiq”:“Hurry up, they are waiting,” said by the chairman to a cotton worker.

From a locutionary perspective, the sentence is grammatically and lexically correct. From an illocutionary perspective, it is not merely a statement but a command requiring action. From a perlocutionary perspective, it implies the listener’s reaction, such as haste or anxiety, following the chairman’s words.

Searle further classified illocutionary acts into several categories:Assertives – statements that convey facts or information.

Example: “The painter is still young and lacks sufficient experience.”

Directives – utterances used to give commands, requests, or advice.

Example: “Control yourself; do not embarrass yourself in front of others.” (command)

Commissives – expressions of promises, obligations, or plans.

Example: “You will go to the meeting. Your train ticket is ready; go home, get dressed, and leave.” (plan)

Expressives – utterances that express emotions such as gratitude, apology, or congratulations.

Example: “I greeted him timidly. When he saw me, his eyes lit up.”

Declaratives – utterances that bring about a change in status or situation through words themselves.

Conclusion

Speech act theory does not limit itself to studying the grammatical structure and semantic content of language, but also explains how communicative goals are achieved through speech. The locutionary act reflects the formation of meaning, the illocutionary act reveals the speaker’s intention, and the perlocutionary act demonstrates the actual effect on the listener. In particular, the classification of illocutionary acts highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of speech functions. Illocutionary types such as commands, requests, promises, advice, and statements help to deeply understand the communicative power of language.

Thus, speech act theory serves as an important methodological foundation for studying the pragmatic aspects of language and reveals the intrinsic relationship between meaning and impact in the speech process.

References

1. Abdulvokhidov, E. Pedagogical concept of writers as a means of enriching the pedagogical process. Oriental Renaissance: Innovative, Educational, Natural and Social Sciences Scientific Journal, Vol. 1, Issue 11, December 2021.2. Ibragimova, N. T. The use of interactive methods and techniques in foreign language teaching. “Ta’lim va taraqqiyot” Scientific-Methodological Journal, 2025, Issue 2.3. Tillayeva, R. The effectiveness of organizing research activities in increasing students’ engagement. Proceedings of the Young Philologists’ Society, Alisher Navoi Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature.

Shamsiddinova Maftuna Hamidjon qizi was born on April 28, 2003, in Norin District, Namangan Region. She began her education at Secondary School No. 17 in her district, then continued her studies at the Academic Lyceum of Namangan State University (NamDU). After graduating from the lyceum, she was admitted on a state-funded (grant) basis to Namangan State University, majoring in Philology and Language Teaching: Uzbek Language.She successfully completed her undergraduate studies with an honors diploma and is currently a graduating master’s student in Uzbek Language and Literature at Namangan State Pedagogical Institute.

Maftuna’s strong interest in languages, alongside her devotion to her native language, has also led her to study English. At present, she works as a teacher of Uzbek language and literature at a specialized creative school focused on languages.

Maftuna’s goal is to become a highly qualified specialist in her profession and, through her expertise, to share knowledge and contribute to the education of others.