Communicative-pragmatic features of Kazakh humor: reflection on national values

Abstract

This study explores the role of humour in Kazakh social life, demonstrating how it facilitates the preservation and transmission of cultural knowledge.  The main purpose of the study is to show that humor is not only entertainment but also a form of social interaction through which values, norms, and shared knowledge are passed from one generation to another. To address this question, the study relies on a set of different approaches. The material is read closely to see how certain stylistic features appear, the meanings hidden between the lines are examined, and the social purpose of each humorous example is considered. In addition, the Kazakh material is compared with humor from other cultures.

The analysis draws on a mixed set of materials. For this research, examples were collected from older oral humor as well as from online platforms where modern users post short, humorous remarks. Examining them side by side makes it clear that older humorous patterns still surface in online communication. These features allow speakers to comment on social issues in a subtle and culturally acceptable way. The novelty of the research lies in combining traditional and digital humor within one communicative-pragmatic framework, demonstrating how cultural codes remain stable even as modes of communication change.