ASSOCIATIVE FIELD OF LEXEME “ADYRASPAN” IN THE WORLDVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY KAZAKH YOUTH

Abstract

The word “adyraspan” is a lexeme that holds a special place in Kazakh traditions and beliefs. It is not only understood as a plant but also carries symbolic, ritual, and healing meanings. The aim of this study is to identify the associations connected with the concept of “adyraspan” in the linguistic consciousness of contemporary Kazakh youth, and to describe its semantic, cultural, and cognitive dimensions. The object of the research is the reactions of Kazakh youth aged 17-25 to the word “adyraspan” (634 responses). The representations, images, and associations related to this word among young people were compared, highlighting the specific features of their linguistic consciousness and ethnocultural perception. Through the peculiarities of imagination, evaluation, and usage of this plant, the worldview, traditions, and linguistic awareness of the youth become apparent. The concept of “adyraspan” is examined through ethnocultural codes, magical-medical notions, and linguistic associations. The relevance of the article is recognized through the identification of the representation of adyrapsan (Peganum harmala), which has held a significant place in the everyday life and traditional beliefs of the Kazakh people, in the linguistic consciousness of modern youth. In ethnolinguistics and ethnopsycholinguistics, the peculiarities of world perception are revealed through linguistic means of representation and cultural cognitive models. The findings of the study contribute to understanding how traditional lexemes are perceived in modern contexts and their role within the cultural code in Kazakh ethnolinguistics and psycholinguistics.