THE CONCEPT OF "CHILDREN" IN UZBEK AND TURKISH PROVERBS

Аннотация

This article explores the features of the representation of the concept of "child" in the oral traditions, especially proverbs, of Uzbek and Turkish peoples. It examines its sociocultural and semantic connotations. The value given to children in both cultures, their functional role in the family and society, and the metaphorical, allegorical, and axiological analysis of the image of children have been linguistically analyzed. Through the artistic means used in proverbs, the people’s worldview, philosophy of life, and intergenerational relations are artisticallyinterpreted. Keywords: concept, proverb, culture, relationship, semantics, stereotype, metaphor. Proverbs hold an important place in the culture of every nation. With their linguistic charm and expressive power, proverbs didactically present the role and importance of concepts such as family, father, and mother in the upbringing of future generations. “In general, folk oral creativityand thegenres that constitutethisliterature, both in form and internal structure, express the emotions, thoughts, and life views of an entire nation. These genres are the product of a wisdom capable of holistic thinking, evaluating, and directing events.”1 Metaphors and similes are effectively used in proverbs. They not only illustrate thoughts, desires, emotions, and ideas, but also reveal models of social behavior and relationships. Below we examine the expression of the“child” concept intheproverbs ofboth nations and compare them. In both cultures, the child is considered a key factor determining the existence of a family. They are seen as the future of the family and preservers of national traditions. In Uzbek culture, families with many children have traditionally been respected. Children often live with their parents, even after reaching adulthood. In Turkish culture, it is expected that the younger generation supports and respects their parents in old age; however, this is not an obligation, but an act of love. Compared to Uzbek culture, children are granted independence earlier. Moreover, in Uzbek culture, parents actively participate in their children’s marriage choices. Family decisions tend to have stronger influence. In Turkish culture, children have more rights to make personal decisions. Often, the role of parents is limited to offering advice. Overall, in both cultures, special attention is paid to children’s upbringing, education, living conditions, and future. In both cultures, childlessness is often viewed negatively, as both emphasize the importance of family and lineage. Having children is considered a blessing, abundance, and a promise of the future, while childlessness is sometimes depicted as undesirable or sorrowful. Thisis reflected intheir proverbs: 1Öztürk,A.TürkAnonimEdebiyatı.İstanbul:BayrakYayıncılık,1986,9s https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue4,2025 518 Çocuk evin meyvesidir, Çocuklu evpazar,çocuksuz evmezar, Evlâdı olmayanda merhamet olmaz, Çocuksuz kadınmeyvesiz ağaçgibidir, Oğlanıkızı olmayan avrattan,eski hasır yeğdir. In these proverbs, the concept of child is expressed with the words pazar, meva, shafqat. A negative attitude towards childless individuals, especially women, can be observed. In Uzbek proverbs: Bolaliuy- bozor, bolasiz uy–mozor; Bolaliuy- xandon, bolasizuy -zindon; Tug'mas ayol -mevasiz daraxt. Turkish and Uzbek proverbs associate childlessness with deficiency, sorrow, and orphanhood, as they regard family, lineage, and social stability as essential. Linguistically, the concept of "child" is expressed in Uzbek with synonyms such as “bola, chaqaloq, o‘g‘il, qiz, dilband”, and in Turkish as “evlat, çocuk, oğul, kız, yavru”. Although these aresemantic synonyms, each has itsown pragmatic implication depending onthecontext. Additionally, in both cultures, the desire to have a male child is traditionally stronger, which isreflected inproverbs, fairy tales, and social values: Oğlan doğuranövünsün,kız doğuran dövünsün, Erkek evlat ailenin direğidir. In Uzbekproverbs: Ota “yag‘iri” o‘g‘ilgameros; Otasiulgurmaganni o‘g‘litugatar; Ota kasbi –o‘g‘ilga haromemas; Qo‘zi qo‘chqordan nishon, o‘g‘ilotadan. While the superiority of a son is emphasized more, daughters are also valued as symbols of affection, gentleness, and motherhood: Akıllı kız –altıntaht; Biranaya birkız,bir kafaya birgöz; Kız evin ışığıdır. In Uzbek culture, the daughter is compared to the mother and their upbringing is specially emphasized: Arqog‘iniko‘rib bo‘zini ol,Onasini ko‘ribqizini ol; https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue4,2025 519 Ona aqli–qiz aqli, otaso‘zi–aql ko‘zi; Uniquequalities and virtues of girls arealso reflected in proverbs: Pardaliqiz –parigatengsiz; Qizibor uy doimsarishta; Yaxshiotgaqamchi kerakmas, Yaxshi qizga –sovchi; Yaxshiqiz erta turibsoch tarar,yomon qiz erta turibnonso‘rar. Let us nowexaminethemetaphorical comparisons related to children in proverbs. Throughplantimagery: Karpuzkökeninde büyür; Karpuzsulandıkçabüyür; Ekin