Comparative Analysis of Phraseological Units with Numerical Components in Kazakh and English

Abstract

The article examines phraseological units in Kazakh and English that contain numerical components from one to ten, with the aim of identifying their similarities and differences. At present, the comparative study of phraseological units across languages is becoming an increasingly relevant area of linguistic research. In any language, numbers, in addition to denoting the quantity of objects, also possess symbolic meanings; therefore, they may acquire magical or sacred connotations, enabling a deeper understanding of the surrounding world and of the human being. Numbers thus offer insight into the worldview and cultural specificities of language communities.

Phraseological units with numerical components constitute a particularly fruitful domain of investigation, as they directly reflect the mentality and worldview of native speakers. While numbers are abstract notions, in language they acquire concrete semantic shades, often linked to cultural codes and the historical experience of a people. In this study, a comparative analysis was conducted of Kazakh and English phraseological units containing numerals from one to ten, with a view to identifying their typological similarities and nationally specific features. Stable expressions with numerical components from one to ten occupy a special place among the phraseological units of each language, reflecting characteristic patterns of thinking and the linguistic worldview of each ethnic group.

The analysis revealed cultural features that are reflected and firmly embedded in each language in different ways and made it possible to determine the divergences in the perception of numerical values, their role in culture, and their interpretation by speakers of Kazakh and English. The results of the analysis can be used as background material for translators and may help to overcome extra-linguistic barriers in the translation process. The data considered in the study relate to cultural customs, traditions, religious ceremonies, phrasal verbs and proverbs. The paper concludes with recommendations for interpreting word combinations from Kazakh into English and from English into Kazakh.

Keywords: linguistics, phraseological units, fixed expressions, linguistic worldview, numerical components, comparative analysis, linguistic heritage.