FEATURES OF THE LINGUISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF KAZAKH AND POLISH PEOPLES BASED ON REACTIONS TO KINSHIP TERMS

Abstract

The article examines the concept of linguistic consciousness in its close relationship with national consciousness and is aimed at identifying the specific features of the perception of kinship and gender concepts by representatives of the Kazakh and Polish linguocultural communities. The main objective of the study is to determine how worldview characteristics inherent in different linguocultural groups are reflected in linguistic consciousness through the method of free associative experiment and their subsequent comparative analysis. The research employs a theoretical analysis of scholarly works on the theory of linguistic consciousness, the method of free associative experiment, as well as interpretative and comparative-analytical methods for processing the obtained data. Representatives of the Kazakh and Polish nationalities took part in the experiment, during which associative reactions to the basic stimulus words “ata”, “azhe”, “ana”, “ake”, “aga”, “apke”, “ayel”, and “erkek” were compared. The results of the study demonstrate that in Kazakh linguistic consciousness kinship terms are predominantly associated with the concepts of family, educational values, tradition, and generational continuity, whereas in Polish linguistic consciousness associations related to personality, autonomy, independent action, and individual qualities prevail. The analysis of gender concepts reveals that in the Kazakh language the image of a woman is linked to maternal care and her role as the core of the family, while the image of a man is associated with strength, protection, and responsibility. In contrast, in Polish linguistic consciousness the image of a woman is conceptualized as an independent, aesthetically valued, and self-realizing individual. The findings, based on concrete linguistic data, confirm the close interrelation between language and culture, linguistic consciousness and national values, and contribute to a deeper understanding of intercultural communication processes. The scientific significance of the article lies in its contribution to the development of linguistic consciousness and conceptology from a comparative perspective, while its practical significance is determined by the possibility of applying the results in linguocultural studies, cognitive linguistics, foreign language teaching, and intercultural communication.