CULTURAL VALUES ENCODED IN THE CHILD CONCEPT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ENGLISH AND KARAKALPAK PROVERBS

Abstract

The concept of CHILD is one of the fundamental cognitive and cultural categories reflected in the linguistic worldview of every nation. Among various linguistic means, proverbs serve as valuable repositories of collective knowledge, preserving traditional beliefs, moral principles, and social norms related to childhood and family life. Despite the growing interest in cognitive linguistics and linguocultural studies, comparative investigations of the CHILD concept in English and Karakalpak proverbial discourse remain limited. This study explores the cultural values encoded in English and Karakalpak proverbs that verbalize the concept of CHILD. The research adopts a qualitative comparative approach based on cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, and paremiology. The analysis reveals that both linguistic traditions conceptualize children as the continuation of the family and the future of society; however, the underlying cultural values differ. English proverbs predominantly emphasize individuality, personal responsibility, and practical wisdom, whereas Karakalpak proverbs highlight collective identity, respect for elders, and family continuity. The findings demonstrate that proverbs function not only as linguistic expressions but also as cognitive mechanisms transmitting national cultural values across generations.