THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF STUDYING THE PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION OF INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE IN UZBEKISTAN

Аннотация

Uzbek ethnofolklore represents a crucial element of the nation’s cultural heritage, encompassing oral traditions, rituals, and artistic expressions passed down through generations. This study explores the methods used to collect and research ethnofolklore materials, emphasizing fieldwork, linguistic analysis, and digital preservation techniques. The paper highlights challenges such as authenticity, globalization, and generational transmission while discussing solutions like interdisciplinary approaches, institutional support, and technological advancements. By integrating traditional and modern methodologies, researchers can ensure the sustainability of Uzbek folklore, preserving its cultural and historical significance for future generations. Keywords: Uzbek ethnofolklore, oral traditions, folklore research, preservation, digital archiving, linguisticanalysis. Uzbek ethnofolklore represents a vast and invaluable cultural treasure that encapsulates the nation’s oral traditions, customs, rituals, myths, and artistic expressions. It serves as a vital link between past and present, preserving the collective memory of the Uzbek people and reflecting their historical evolution, worldviews, and social structures. The study of ethnofolklore is crucial not only for safeguarding this rich heritage but also for understanding the intricate relationship between folklore and national identity. However, the process of collecting and researching ethnofolklore materials presents various methodological challenges, requiring scholars toemploy a range of approaches to ensure authenticity, accuracy, and cultural sensitivity. Since much of Uzbek folklore has been transmitted orally through generations, it is susceptible tovariations and reinterpretations, making fieldwork an essential component of folklore studies. Researchers must engage directly with traditional storytellers, musicians, and community elders to document folklore in its most authentic form, preserving not only the content but also the stylistic and performativeaspects that are integral to itsmeaning. The collection of ethnofolklore in Uzbekistan has evolved over time, influenced by historical and political contexts. During the Soviet era, folklore was often documented and analyzed through the lens of socialist ideology, which sometimes led to the modification or selective recording of cultural materials. With Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991, there has been a renewed interest in rediscovering and preserving folklore in its original form, leading to new methodological approaches that prioritize ethnographic immersion, linguistic analysis, and comparative studies. Modern researchers combine traditional fieldwork with technological advancements such as audio and video recording, digital archiving, and interdisciplinary analysis to ensure that folklore is not only documented but also made accessible to wider audiences. The methodological https://ijmri.de/index.php/jmsi volume 4,issue2,2025 224 framework for studying Uzbek ethnofolklore thus involves a careful balance between preserving oral traditions and adapting research techniques to contemporary academic standards. By examining the methods of collecting and researching ethnofolklore materials, this paper aims to highlight the significance of folklore in shaping cultural consciousness and explore effective strategies for itspreservation and scholarly interpretation. The collection and study of Uzbek ethnofolklore require a thorough and systematic approach, as folklore is not merely a collection of tales and traditions but an essential component of cultural identity and historical consciousness. Researchers working in this field must first define their objectives, identifying whether they seek to document oral narratives, ritual practices, musical traditions, or other forms of folklore. One of the primary methods of collecting folkloric material is fieldwork, which involves direct engagement with the bearers of tradition. This typically includes interviews with elderly members of the community, traditional storytellers, poets, and artisans who have inherited and preserved cultural knowledge through generations. These individuals are often regarded as the custodians of oral tradition, ensuring that myths, legends, proverbs, and epics remain an active part of Uzbek heritage. Researchers must approach fieldwork with cultural sensitivity, recognizing that folklore is deeply intertwined with social norms, religious beliefs, and historical experiences. To ensure accurate and comprehensive documentation, ethnographers employ participant observation, recording performances, and conducting structured or semi-structured interviews to capture the nuances of folklore in its natural setting. Since oral traditions are often dynamic and context-dependent, researchers must also take into account variations in storytelling styles, linguistic differences across regions, and theinfluence ofhistorical events onfolkloriccontent. One