Motivational Mechanisms and Semantic Structures of Polysemous Nominal Nouns in the Kazakh Language

Maretbayeva M. Salkynbay A. Sorokina O. Kabush T. Kassymova D. Nurakhunova G.
July 2025 Bilingual Publishing Group

Forum for Linguistic Studies
2025 #7 Issue 7 470 - 486 pp.

This study explores the polysemous nature of nominal nouns in the Kazakh language through an in-depth examination of their semantic structure and motivational mechanisms. By focusing on both primary and secondary meanings of lexemes, the research classifies polysemy into several distinct types - namely, derived, figurative, dialectal, and terminological - based on linguistic, ethnolinguistic, and cultural factors. While polysemy is a cross-linguistic phenomenon, its nationally specific characteristics and culturally embedded motivations in Kazakh offer a unique perspective for cognitive-semantic interpretation. The paper applies a combination of componential, etymological, and ethnolinguistic analyses to examine how lexical meanings evolve from core referents to metaphorical and context-dependent interpretations. Findings reveal that Kazakh polysemous nouns are shaped by formal, functional, material, spatial, and associative motivations. Furthermore, motivational chains exhibit varying levels of complexity: simple, parallel, sequential, and parallel-sequential models are observed across examples. The study provides a typology of semantic shifts, highlighting intricate relationships among lexical meanings from both diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Ultimately, the research demonstrates that polysemy in Kazakh is not merely a linguistic phenomenon but also a cognitive and cultural one, deeply embedded in the worldview and lived experience of its speakers. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of semantic derivation and nomination theory within Turkic linguistics.

Kazakh Language , Motivations , Nominal Noun , Polysemy , Secondary Meanings , Semantic Structures

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Languages Development Center, NC JSC Karaganda Medical University, Karaganda, 100008, Kazakhstan
Department of Kazakh Linguistics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Multidisciplinary Education Center, SDU University, Kaskelen, 040900, Kazakhstan

Languages Development Center
Department of Kazakh Linguistics
Multidisciplinary Education Center

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