Emotive lingua-ecology and national concepts: an emotional-pragmatic approach to Kazakh paremiology

Abstract

The article explores the paremiological units of the Kazakh language from the perspective of emotional lingua-ecology, focusing on the meanings of folk pedagogical concepts such as “Uyat bolmasyn”, “Jaman bolmasyn”, and “Obal bolmasyn”. These expressions serve as cultural codes conveyed through proverbs rich in linguistic and cultural content. The features of a nation’s appearance, lifestyle, and essence are most vividly and accurately reflected in folklore, particularly in proverbs and sayings. The paremiology of the 21st century has shifted its focus from traditional structural approaches to functional and pragmatic aspects. Viewing proverbs through a pragmatic lens highlights their cognitive nature and communicative value, particularly interms of usage context. The significance of this research lies in its emphasis on analyzing proverbs within a communicative-pragmatic framework, focusing on their emotional impact. Accordingly, the spiritual meanings of proverbs are examined through the lens of emotive lingua-ecology, which considers ethno-linguistic identity and national consciousness as shaped by the behavior and destiny of a language community. The power and influence of words are linked to the surrounding biosphere and wildlife. Emotive lingua-ecology
investigates how emotionally charged linguistic structures—both positive and negative—affect society and the linguistic environment. This field aims to preserve the emotional culture of a language and maintain itsecological balance. Proverbs, in this context, are seen as emotionally and ecologically sustainable linguistic tools that enhance social interaction, improve communication, and protect the language from harmful influences. They also foster linguistic and emotional culture among young people—an essential goal of emotive lingua-ecology. The study employed semantic, pragmatic-communicative, and cultural analyses of ethical values. Since emotional lingua-ecology is grounded in the general principles of linguo-culturology, concepts such as “Uyat bolmasyn”, “Jaman bolmasyn”, and “Obal bolmasyn” are understood through the conceptual sphere of ecological proverbs, eliciting emotional responses and reflecting a new direction in paremiological research. An empirical study was conducted among young people to assess the popularity and usage of proverbs in society, evaluating their pragmatic significance from an ecological-linguistic perspective. The research utilized questionnaires and interviews based on respondents’ knowledge and life experiences, gathering data from both students and teachers on the everyday use of proverbs. The paper presents quantitative findings from this survey and offers suggestions for further research.