The concept of “steppe” as a fragment of the conceptosphere “Kazakhstan”

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive study of the linguistic, cultural, and cognitive aspects of the concept of “steppe,” which holds a special place in the culture and worldview of the Kazakh people. The concept of “steppe” is of exceptional importance in the national identity and culture of the Kazakh people, reflecting their understanding of space, love for freedom, spiritual values, patriotism, and philosophy of harmonious coexistence with nature. The study established that the concept of “steppe” occupies a significant place in the national consciousness of the Kazakh people and serves as the central core of the “Kazakhstan” conceptual sphere. The structure of this concept was analyzed using the frame analysis method, which allowed for the identification of its main models. The article provides a definition of the frame and examines its primary function in language. In cognitive linguistics, the frame is considered an essential tool for organizing knowledge. The views of M. Minsky, who defined the frame as a method of modeling information and data stored in human memory, based on visual and stereotypical perception, were analyzed, as well as those of C. Fillmore, who introduced the concept of the frame into linguistics, viewing it as conceptual knowledge and a cognitive structure. It is noted that researchers consider the frame to be a multi-component concept that in-cludes associations stored in memory or standard knowledge, and it is emphasized that frames contribute to the formation of a conceptual system by grouping perceptions of reality in the mind. Based on the aforementioned frame structure, the content of concepts such as “Homeland,” “country,” “native land,” “aul” (village), “region,” and “territory” is revealed. Additionally, the term “subconcept,” which is a part of a unified general concept or its internal category, is defined. The article provides an in-depth analysis of the linguistic features
and cultural-cognitive significance of subconcepts that constitute the “steppe” concept, such as “Great Steppe,” “Kazakh Steppe,” “boundless steppe,” “vast steppe,” and “flat steppe.” As part of the study, an associative experiment was conducted with the participation of youth from Kazakhstan and Tatarstan. The results of the experiment demonstrated that the concept of “steppe” holds an important place in the linguistic consciousness of both fraternal nations. It was proven that this concept is recognized as a key concept defining the national image of the Kazakh people. Furthermore, the relevance of the concept of “steppe” in the
worldview and culture of the Kazakh people was substantiated through proverbs, sayings, phraseological expressions, and lexicographic data. The article emphasizes that an in-depth analysis of the historical, cultural, and linguistic aspects of the “steppe” concept highlights its significance in defining the national code of the Kazakh people. The results of the study demonstrated that the concept of “steppe” holds a unique place in the culture and worldview of the Kazakh people and allows for the identification of its role in shaping national identity. The concept of “steppe” paves the way for a deeper understanding of the national identity, spiritual
values, and cultural characteristics of the Kazakh people.