The rich cultural heritage of the Karakalpak language: unique words and their significance

Abstract

The Karakalpak language is a historically rich and culturally significant language, with words that hold deep meanings unique to its speakers. This article explores these distinctive words, their origins, and their relevance in both everyday life and cultural practices. Understanding the relationship between the language and the customs of the Karakalpak people offers insight into their history, worldview, and the preservation of their traditions.

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Axmetova, M., & Seytjanova, L. (2025). The rich cultural heritage of the Karakalpak language: unique words and their significance. Bringing Together Students: International Research and Collaboration across Disciplines, 1(1), 35–37. Retrieved from https://www.inlibrary.uz/index.php/btsircad/article/view/97996
Moldir Axmetova, Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh
3rd year student , Foreign languages faculty, English language and literature department
Luiza Seytjanova, Karakalpak State University named after Berdakh
Scientific advisor, EFL teacher
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Abstract

The Karakalpak language is a historically rich and culturally significant language, with words that hold deep meanings unique to its speakers. This article explores these distinctive words, their origins, and their relevance in both everyday life and cultural practices. Understanding the relationship between the language and the customs of the Karakalpak people offers insight into their history, worldview, and the preservation of their traditions.


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STUDENTLERDI BIRLESTIRIW: XALÍQARALÍQ IZERTLEWLER HÁM PÁNLER BOYINSHA BIRGE

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3.

Пазылов А. Кемпир тири болғанда ма... жазыўшы бир муш жер еди // Еркин
Қарақалпақстан, 1993, № 130-131 (16267), 21-август.

4.

Әбдимуратов М. Шайырлар мақтап, жазыўшылар датлап атырғандай... // Еркин
Қарақалпақстан, 1993, № 124 (16260), 10-август.

5.

Есенов Ж. Ғәзеп пенен жазылған роман. //«Еркин Қарақалпақстан», 20-февраль, 1993-
жыл.

6.

Сейтов Ш. Жаман шығанақтағы Ақтуба. -Нөкис, 1992.


THE RICH CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE KARAKALPAK LANGUAGE:

UNIQUE WORDS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Axmetova Moldir Kasim kizi

3rd year student at KSU, Foreign languages faculty,

English language and literature department

Seytjanova Luiza Taxirovna

Scientific advisor, EFL teacher at KSU

Abstract:

The Karakalpak language is a historically rich and culturally significant language, with

words that hold deep meanings unique to its speakers. This article explores these distinctive words,
their origins, and their relevance in both everyday life and cultural practices. Understanding the
relationship between the language and the customs of the Karakalpak people offers insight into their
history, worldview, and the preservation of their traditions.

Keywords:

Karakalpak language, cultural heritage, dialects, historical significance, linguistic

evolution, unique words, traditions

The Karakalpak language, spoken primarily in the Karakalpakstan region of Uzbekistan, boasts

a rich and intricate history shaped by centuries of cultural exchange and internal development. Over
time, it has evolved through continuous interaction with various languages and peoples, resulting in a
vocabulary that vividly reflects the life, traditions, and values of the Karakalpak people. Unique words
specific to Karakalpak serve not only as linguistic markers but also as vital elements of cultural
preservation, emdiving the community’s collective memory and worldview. This article examines
the origins and meanings of these distinctive words and highlights their essential role in maintaining
the cultural identity of this Turkic-speaking population.

Language and culture in the Karakalpak context are deeply interconnected, forming an

inseparable bond through which generations have transmitted cultural knowledge, oral traditions, and
social values. The Karakalpak worldview is encapsulated in its linguistic expressions, many of which,
especially those relating to familial relationships, traditional practices, and natural phenomena, resist
easy translation into other languages. These unique terms offer a glimpse into a way of life molded
by the historical experience of nomadism, the influence of Islamic traditions, and the dynamics of
modernization. The vocabulary thus serves not only a communicative function but also acts as a
repository of historical and cultural identity.

Many words within the Karakalpak language are intrinsically tied to specific cultural practices,

rituals, and customs that continue to shape the community's identity today. For example, terms
associated with traditional family structures, social gatherings, agricultural practices, and religious
ceremonies hold profound cultural significance. These words encapsulate the values, beliefs, and
social norms of the Karakalpak people, offering a living testimony to their enduring traditions. By
preserving and using these culturally significant terms, speakers of Karakalpak contribute to the
continuity of their heritage, ensuring that future generations remain connected to their ancestral roots.


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Shógirme

: A traditional winter cap worn by Karakalpak men, also known as

Qurash

. It holds

historical significance and is considered a symbol of Karakalpak identity.

Sáwkele

: A ceremonial headpiece worn by women and girls, especially during weddings.

Adorned with pearls and precious stones, it represents the beauty and grace of Karakalpak women.

Háwjar

: A traditional song sung during the wedding ceremony when a girl is sent off to her

new home. It expresses emotional farewells and captures the deep sense of longing and connection to
one’s homeland.

Bet Ashar

: A unique Karakalpak wedding tradition, where the new bride is introduced to her

husband's family and community, often through a light-hearted and humorous depiction of her
character.

Yaramazan

: A poem recited by children at the beginning and end of Ramadan. It conveys

well-wishes for good health, prosperity, and happiness for the community.

Qiz Uzatiw

: The departure ceremony of the bride, marking a significant cultural moment in

Karakalpak weddings.

Besik Toy

: A ceremony dedicated to placing a baby in a cradle, symbolizing the beginning of

a new life in the community.

Júweri Gúrtik

: A traditional Karakalpak dish that holds symbolic significance in celebrations.

Súyinshi

: A gift given in celebration of happy news, such as the birth of a child or a marriage.

The Karakalpak language is characterized by notable internal diversity, being traditionally

divided into two primary dialects: the Northern and Southern dialects. Each exhibits distinct phonetic
features and unique lexical choices, reflecting the geographical, social, and cultural diversity within
the Karakalpak-speaking community. In the Northern dialect, spoken in regions such as Kegeyli,
Shimbay, Taxtakopir, and Qaraozek, certain words differ significantly from their Southern
counterparts. For instance:

1.

Shirpi

(match) vs.

Kúkirt

(Southern dialect)

2.

Shalbar

(trousers) vs.

Sim

(Southern dialect)

3.

Baylanis

(connection) vs.

Alaqa

(Southern dialect)

4.

Úlken

(large) vs.

Áydik

(Southern dialect)

5.

Qulaqshin

(earphones) vs.

Toppi

(Southern dialect)

6.

Gúze

(jug) vs.

Ibiriq

(Southern dialect)

These regional variations highlight the flexibility of the Karakalpak language and its adaptability

to different local contexts.

These regional variations not only highlight the linguistic richness of Karakalpak but also

demonstrate the language’s flexibility and its capacity to adapt to different local contexts, thus
preserving a sense of community identity while embracing diversity.

The evolution of the Karakalpak language over time is further illustrated through the phenomenon

of lexical obsolescence, where many traditional words, known as

go'nergen soʼzler

(old words), have

gradually fallen out of common usage. This process reflects broader societal changes, technological
advancements, and increasing global influences. For example, the traditional word

wa'spi

has been

largely replaced by

tariyxi

to denote 'history';

na'har

has given way to

awqat

or

tamaq

for 'cuisine';

joybar

has been superseded by

reje

for 'plan';

ga'rdish

by

qiyinshiliq

for 'difficulty';

qanterek

by

kelisim

for 'agreement'; and

jarliq

or

hamir

by

buyriq

for 'order'. Similarly,

jar

has been replaced with

dag'aza

to mean 'announcement'. The replacement of these traditional terms with newer equivalents

is a natural part of linguistic evolution, illustrating how the Karakalpak language continues to adapt
to the shifting realities of its speakers while still preserving echoes of its historical roots.

Conclusion.

The Karakalpak language is more than just a means of communication; it is a

reflection of the culture, history, and worldview of the Karakalpak people. Its rich vocabulary, shaped
by centuries of tradition and evolution, provides invaluable insights into the life and customs of one


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of Central Asia’s most storied peoples. By studying and preserving these unique words, we not only
gain a deeper understanding of the language but also ensure that the cultural heritage embedded within
them is passed on to future generations. The continued exploration and documentation of the

go'nergen soʼzler

offer a pathway to understanding the broader linguistic and cultural evolution of the

region.

References:

1.

Akhmedov, R. (2020). Linguistic Diversity in Central Asia: Karakalpak as a Case Study.

Tashkent: National University of Uzbekistan Press.
2.

Kudaibergenova, Z. (2018). Language and Identity in Central Asia: The Role of Karakalpak.

Journal of Central Asian Linguistics, 12(3), 45-58.
3.

Sharipova, L. (2019). Karakalpak Cultural Heritage and Language Preservation. Almaty:

Kazakh University Press.
4.

Taxirovna, S. L. Axmetova Moldir Kasim kizi.(2024). A Cross-Cultural Perspective on

Japanese and Karakalpak Greetings.

Procedia of Philosophical and Pedagogical Sciences

,

3

(4),

1-4.
5.

Uteshova Z. The general characteristics of teaching reading comprehension //InterConf.–2020.

– 2020.

Q.MÁTMURATOVTIŃ «TERBENBES» ROMANÍNDA SESLERDIŃ

STILISTIKALÍQ FUNKCIYADA QOLLANÍLÍWÍ HAQQÍNDA

Aymurzaeva Ulbosın Joldasbay qızı

Berdaq atındaǵı QMU Qaraqalpaq filologiyası hám jurnalistika fakulteti Baspa isi tálim

baǵdarı 3-kurs studenti

Kórkem ádebiyatta jazıwshı sóz tańlawında tildiń barlıq stilleri de (kitabıy hám sóylew stilleri)

paydalanıla beredi hám olardı paydalanıw shıǵarmadaǵı waqıyaǵa, onıń personajlarınıń
xarakteristikasına, tiline baylanıslı boladı. Sonlıqtan da hár bir kórkem shıǵarmada jazıwshınıń
individuallıǵı, jekke stili, onıń kóz qarasları, obraz jasaw uqıplılıǵı kórinedi. Ayırım jazıwshılar óziniń
sheberligi menen milliy ádebiy tildiń rawajlanıwında iz qaldırıp, oǵan óz tásirin tiygize aladı.

Biz belgili dramaturg hám jurnalist, jazıwshı, kórkem óner ǵayratkeri Qıpshaqbay Mátmuratovtıń

«Terbenbes» romanında seslerdiń stilistikalıq funkciyalarda qollanılıwın qarap shıǵamız.
Q.Mátmuratov bul shıǵarmasında XXI ásir baslarında óziniń isbilermenlik uqıbı arqalı xalqınıń baxıt-
ıǵbalı ushın janın otqa jaǵıp xızmet etken tarıyxıy tulǵa Lepes bay haqqında sóz etedi.

Geypara izertlewshiler fonetikanıń stilistikalıq quralların úlken eki toparǵa bólip qaraydı: avtorlıq

qurallar hám atqarıw (sóylew) quralları.

Avtorlıq qurallar dep poetikalıq shıǵarmalardaǵı ritmika, metrika, rifma alliteraciya hám t.b.

aytıladı, al atqarıw qurallarına intonaciya, pauza, logikalıq hám frazalıq pát, sózlerdiń aytılıwındaǵı
emocionallıq hám ekspressivlik belgiler (boyawlar) kiredi [1].

Rus tiliniń stilistikası boyınsha jazılǵan miynetlerde fonetikalıq stilistikada, tiykarınan: 1)

sózlerdiń aytılıwı (sóylew) stili; 2) seslerdiń stilistikalıq funkciyası; 3) seslik simvolizm hám seslerdiń
poetikalıq funkciyası analizlengen [2]. Haqıyqatında da kórsetilgen bul fonetikalıq qurallar hár qıylı
stilistikalıq xızmetler atqaradı.

Sonday-aq jazıwshı shıǵarmasında seslerdiń aytılıw stili birqansha ózgeshe bolıp keledi.

Shıǵarma tilinde sesler óziniń sózdegi poziciyasına qaray hár qıylı aytılıw múmkin. Ondaǵı
nızamlılıqlardı hár tildiń orfoepiyalıq normaları belgileydi [3]. Biraq sóylewde bul normalar saqlana
bermeydi. Máselen, radio hám televideniedegi diktorlardıń, lektor hám dokladshılardıń, sonday-aq
sabaqtaǵı muǵallimlerdiń tilinde sózdegi sesler jazba ádebiy tildegi normaları menen aytıladı. Al óz-
ara sóylesiwde, awızeki sóylewde sózdegi ayırım sesler, hátteki buwınlar túsirilip te aytıla beredi: -

References

Akhmedov, R. (2020). Linguistic Diversity in Central Asia: Karakalpak as a Case Study. Tashkent: National University of Uzbekistan Press.

Kudaibergenova, Z. (2018). Language and Identity in Central Asia: The Role of Karakalpak. Journal of Central Asian Linguistics, 12(3), 45-58.

Sharipova, L. (2019). Karakalpak Cultural Heritage and Language Preservation. Almaty: Kazakh University Press.

Taxirovna, S. L. Axmetova Moldir Kasim kizi.(2024). A Cross-Cultural Perspective on Japanese and Karakalpak Greetings. Procedia of Philosophical and Pedagogical Sciences, 3(4), 1-4.

Uteshova Z. The general characteristics of teaching reading comprehension //InterConf.-2020.- 2020.