Филологические науки / 9. Этно-, социо- и психолингвистика

Issayev S.I., Bekentayeva A.B.

L.N.Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Kazakhstan

Lingual culture of “nation” concept in Kazakh and English idioms

Abstract

The given article deals with the characteristics of the concept ‘nation’ in Kazakh and English idioms. Concept is investigated as one of the principle notions of cognitive linguistics and lingocultural study. The work tells us about comparative and contrastive analysis of idioms referred to “nation” concept in both languages and their classification into semantic groups. Also a lot of examples are given from various original texts and their translations. In conclusion common features and peculiarities of “nation” concept in Kazakh and English idioms are defined from two different worldwide outlooks.

Keywords: concept, ‘nation’ concept, idioms, cognitive linguistics, lingocultural study, language worldview, national consciousness, the Kazakh and English outlook

Introduction

During the last decade of the XX century many research studies have been based on investigating ethnos and culture of the nation by language. Theoretical basics of a term “concept” were studied in research works of scientists D.S.Likhachyov, N.D,Arutyunova, V.A.Maslova, E.S.Kubryakova, A.Vezhbitskaya etc. in Russian linguistics. And in Kazakh linguistics such scientists as N.Uali, Zh.Mankeeva, G.Smagulova, K. Zhamanbayeva, A.Islam, M.Kushtayeva etc. examined the nature of concept, semantic structure of language characters, conceptual spheres and structural types of concepts. In the scientists’ projects such concepts as destiny, life and death, soul, sorrow and sadness, heroism, courage, war, colour, beauty are considered, and as for comparative studies ‘heart” concept and “life and death” concepts in Kazakh, English, Russian languages are made comparative and contrastive analysis from different points of view.

Concept is one of the principle categories of cognitive linguistics. Concept is the main component in the cognition of nation’s peculiar outlook. It is a complicated structure denoting the centuries-old notion about cultural values and a brief and meaningful objective reality preserved in the ethno cultural consciousness, handed down from generation to generation.

Research goals and objectives.

To define the linguistic data related to “nation” concept that determines the role of culture of Kazakh and English people in a cognitive and a linguocultural direction. There are some challenges to implement this goal:

- to define the lingual character of “nation” concept in Kazakh and English languages;

- to explain associative field of the “nation” concept in two languages in a cognitive and linguocultural character;

- to make a comparative and contrastive analysis of idioms referred to “nation” concept and divide them into semantic groups;

- to figure out common features and peculiarities of two different worldwide outlooks.

Discussion. Well-known American linguist Edward Sapir characterizes language as purely human and non-instinctive, consisting of a conventional system of arbitrary sound symbols that are produced voluntarily. A concept is the abstracted sum of numerous individual experiences that are perceived as similar or even identical in their basic properties. The concept is a “multivariate idealized forming" but there is no consensus as to the number of semantic parameters according to which the study can be conducted: it includes conceptual and imaginative, value, behavioral, etymological and cultural "dimensions" by Russian scientist S.G.Vorkachyov. In general the concept can be represented as a set of associations, links among the objects and phenomena, based on a personal, subjective experience, and the experience of linguocultural community as a whole.

According to Kazakh scientist A.Islam: “Concept is a complex unit reflected in a language that defines the laconic and deep meaningful worldview values of ethnic outlook” [2].

The content of notion ‘concept’ is definitely reflected in various contexts, proverbs, sayings, idioms (phraseological units), aphorisms and literary texts.

In our research work we studied the reflection of “nation” concept in Kazakh and English idioms.

Kazakh and English people expressed their worldviews, ideas and experiences through idioms. Idioms represent the richness of language. The history of a nation, cultural peculiarities are shown distinctly in the idioms. During our research work we made a review of 28 idioms, including 16 Kazakh (57%) and 12 English (43%) ones.

Making a comparative study of idioms related to ‘nation’ concept in Kazakh and English, we concluded that they have their own peculiar properties and classified them into 3 different groups in both languages. And now let us talk about each group and give examples from various texts:

1. Kazakh nation

1. Алаштың азаматы (Alashtyn azamaty) – the Kazakh’s son, citizen. I have never met Baluan Sholak (a famous Kazakh wrestler). Nevertheless I respected him, because he was a great Kazakh’s son (Alashtyn azamaty), and I was so sad when he had been sent to the prison. (S.М.) [3.33]

2. Алты алаш (Alty alash) – from ancient times this idiom is used to define the whole Kazakh nation.

3. Исі қазақ (Ysi Kazakh)– all Kazakhs, all nation.

There is a great number of people, and all Kazakhs (Ysi Kazakh) are here. (І.Zh.) [3.236]

4. Қалың қазақ (Kalyn Kazakh) – all Kazakhs. There was a time when being happy for all Kazakhs (Kalyn Kazakh) meant to be a Soviet citizen. (АТ).

As we noticed from the examples they mean the whole Kazakh people and are used in different idiomatic expressions and situations. And the word ‘alash’ means the figurative meaning of ‘Kazakh’. Also we highlight the fact that these idioms are richly used in the literary texts.

2. Society

1. Дүйім жұрт (Duyim zhurt) – all people, society.

Kalampyr cried a lot. Even though she cried so many hours, she showed a great braveness among all people ( Duyim zhurt) (S.М.).[3.151]

2. Жалпақ ел (Zhalpak el) – all people, great number of people.

“Not one person, but there a great number of people (Zhalpak el) is saying…” (Abay) [3.178]

3. Қалың ел (Kalyn el) – all people. [4.305]

4. Қалың бұқара (Kalyn bukara) – a lot of people, community.

And those people ( Kalyn bukara) moved away from the Khan’s place and went home. (І.Е.).

5. Қабырғалы қалың ел (Kabyrgaly kalyn el) – United, a big number of people.

The Kazakhs are one of the united nations.

6. Қара бұқара (Kara bukara) in ancient meaning: a working class, labor, a lot of people.

A working class (Kara bukara) is going to write their willingness, to count their property, acquired assets in order to become a member of a party (Abay).

7. Қарайған жұрт (Karaygan zhurt) - all people.

8. Іргелі ел (Irgeli el) – peaceful and friendly people.

They are talking with special accent to let them know that they are peaceful people (Irgeli el). (М.A.). [4.305]

9. Байтақ ел (Baytak el) – people who are living in a large and great territory.

10. Бұратана ел (Buratana el) – subordinate people; a great number of people under someone else’s management.

Earlier the English managed us. And they didn’t mention us – subordinate people (buratana el) Russian, Kazakh and Tatar were equal for them. (М.K.). [3.129]

We discussed 10 idiomatic expressions in this group. It can be easily understood that all words refer to a great number of people, and such words as karaygan, kabyrgaly, kalyn, irgeli, baytak, buratana characterize different types of people, showing us rich cultural concepts of Kazakh language.

3. Uniting people

1. Ел жиды (El zhidy) – to unite your associates. (АС).

“I have a dream to unite all people (El zhiyp), and this is my duty.” (Abay)

2. Топ жасады (top zhasady) – to unite all your associates in one friendly group.

We considered 2 idioms in this group, and both of them are related to the uniting people in one community.

As for English idioms related to ‘nation’ concept we classified them into the following thematic groups:

1. English people

1) a nation of shopkeepers – people, who are engaged in trade ( byname was given to English people)- [5.526]

They spoke of the English as a nation of shopkeepers and had no doubt in their minds that as artists, men of science and philosophers they were greatly superior. ( W.S.Maugham, ‘The Summing up’, ch. 65)

2) John Bull – common facetious expression of English people [5.418]

By some he is called … “a thoroughbred Englishman”, by some, “a genuine John Bull” … (Ch.Dickens, ‘Barnaby Rudge’, ch.XLVII)

John Bull - the name given to an imaginary typical Englishman, representing English people as a whole. He is usually shown in pictures as a fat man with a red face, wearing a top hat, a waistcoat and high boots. He is also often has a bulldog, suggesting that he is like the dog in having a brave, fierce and independent character [6.281].

3) little Englander – a person who rates highly Enlgand more than the UK. [5.244]

Over half a century ago Joseph Chamberlain, who became Colonial Secretary in 1895, admonished Englishmen to “think imperially”. The New Imperialism, as it was called, was proclaimed to be the gospel of the future. English patriots were denounced as “Little Englanders”. (R.P.Dutt, ‘The crisis of Britain and the British Empire’, ch.III)

In this group we made a review for 3 idioms. We can easily notice the main meanings of the words due to appropriate examples.

2. Society

1) all the world and his wife – coll. as a joke. 1) all people; [that word was created by J.Swift] [5.839]

2) on all hands (on every hand) – 2) all people, including all of them; [5.353]

He … was declared on all hands to be one of the happiest men imaginable. (S.Buttler, ‘The Way of All Flesh’, ch.XIII)

3) the three tailors of Tooley Street - a small group of people who presented the interests of all society. [according to English politician G.Canning (1770-1827) the three tailors of Tooley Street got into the Parliament saying: ‘We the people of England …’] [5.743]

At the conference held last week-end of writers in London, H.G.Wells in a speech he made said something not very complimentary about the three tailors of Tooley Street who were settling the fate of the British Empire, and that remark met with a rebuke from Ilya Ehrenburg who mentioned that Gorki at one time in Capri did not think it beneath him to collect one metal worker, one tailor and one carpenter, and believed that these men might overthrow the Russian Empire, which seemed then as strong as the British Empire is today. (R.Fox, ‘The Novel and the People’, ‘Literature and Politics’)

4) all nature – all people (Am. origin, colloq.) [5.526]

Father and I have just returned from the balloon – all nature was there, and more too. ( Suppl)

5) John Q.Public – all people (american origin, colloq.) [5.418]

In this group they have similar meanings with the Kazakh idioms on this theme. From the cultural patterns, especially ‘the three tailors of Tooley Street’, we can convince that the English are a brave nation, who can say directly their opinions and thoughts.

3. Aristocracy

1) the cream of society – the “first” people of the nation [5.184]

2) a pillar of society –a reliance of society [5.581]

Alfred said: ‘How are you, Father, did you have a good rest this afternoon?’ ‘First rate – first rate. Dreamt about the old days! That was before I settled down and became a pillar of society’. (A.Christie, ‘Hercule Poirot’s Christmas’, part I, ch. VI)

3) the rank and fashion – aristocracy, the first class [5.619]

4) be high in the social scale - have a great social impact [5.659]

There are four idioms which are correlated with each other. All of them mean a highest class people, aristocracy. These words show English way of life on a particular period of time.

The results of the analysis of cultural representatives of the concept “nation” let us conclude that unity, society represent the spiritual common component of the Kazakh and English idioms. However there are a lot of differences. The reasons for these varieties might range from time, mentality and history of the nation up to their development, industry and achievements. The “nation” concept has its own meaning in these two countries and is very important clue in folklore. These idioms and the concept, in general, help to increase a patriotic feeling in the citizens’ souls of both countries.

Making a conclusion it can be said that “nation” concept has great linguocultural and linguocognitive meanings in both languages, nevertheless it is understood in different ways in both languages.

References:

1. S.G.Vorkachyov, Koncept “schastya”: ponyatiynyi i obraznyi komponenty . Izv RAN, 2001, Т.60, №3, С.47-58

2. Islam A. Ulttyq madeniyet kontekstindegi dunyenin tildik surety: Phil.gylym.dok.diss. – Almaty, 2004

3. I.Kenesbayev. Qazaq tilinin phraseologiyalyq sozdigi. – Almaty: Gylym, 1977.

4. Qazaq tilinin tusindirme sozdigi. Qazaq SSR-nin ‘Gylym” baspasy. Almaty, 1986.

5. A.V.Kunin «Anglo-russkyi phraseologicheskiy slovar» М., 1967, 1984

6. Oxford Guide to British and American Culture. Oxford University Press. 1999