Linguocultural Paradigm of the Concept «Horse» in Kazakh and Chuvash Paremiology

Abstract

This article comprehensively examines the linguocultural paradigm of the «horse» concept in Kazakh and Chuvash paremiology. The need to identify common and distinctive aspects in the concepts of horses of both nations increases the relevance of this work. This scientific article provides a comprehensive description of the linguocultural content of the «horse» concept based on Kazakh and Chuvash proverbs and sayings. A set of fixed phrases and proverbs in the Kazakh and Chuvash languages containing the lexeme « horse» was used as the research source; linguistic materials were selected based on various paremiological collections and explanatory dictionaries. For the first time in the work, a comprehensive comparative analysis of the «horse» concept in the paremiological fund of the two languages was conducted, and its cognitive model and national-cultural content were systematized. The results of the study show that both peoples value the horse through a broad and figurative symbolic system, perceiving it in connection with the concepts of wealth, heroism, and freedom. At the same time, in Kazakh paremiology, the image of the horse is based on a poetic-romantic character, and it is exalted through metaphors such as «the wing of the man», «the king of livestock». And in the artistic perception of the Chuvash people, it was deprived of its lofty essence and was depicted only in connection with domestic labor and subsistence. However, this is not considered a violation of the dignity of the horse breed. In any case, in the ancient beliefs of both peoples, the horse was revered as the «king of livestock» and the «wings of the man». We would say that the common features and differences in the concepts of horse culture are due to the uniqueness and differences in the traditions of the two peoples. The pragmatic significance of our research work lies in the fact that it can ultimately be used as an illustration in special courses from an ethnolinguistic and linguocultural perspective, as well as in intercultural communication and translation work. The research approaches and conclusions can serve as a basis for the comparative study of the concept of «horse» in the paremiology of Turkic peoples in the future.

Keywords: horse concept, paremiology, linguocultural paradigm, comparative analysis, Kazakh and Chuvash proverbs and sayings.