LINGUOCULTURAL REPRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT LIFE / ÓMIR IN ENGLISH AND KARAKALPAK PAREMIOLOGICAL UNITS

Abstract

 The present study examines the linguocultural representation of the concept LIFE / ÓMIR in English and Karakalpak paremiological units from the perspective of cognitive linguistics and linguoculturology. The study aims to identify semantic, metaphorical, figurative, and axiological peculiarities of the concept in two linguistic worldviews. The material of the study consists of English and Karakalpak proverbs and sayings containing the lexemes life, live, and ómir, selected through continuous sampling from paremiological dictionaries and folklore sources. The research employs descriptive, comparative, contextual-semantic, and conceptual analysis methods. Particular attention is paid to conceptual metaphors as cognitive mechanisms for representing abstract notions through concrete experiential domains. The analysis demonstrates that the concept LIFE / ÓMIR possesses a complex multicomponent structure including semantic, figurative, metaphorical, and evaluative layers. The results reveal both universal and culturally specific features in the conceptualization of life. In English paremiology, the concept is predominantly represented through abstract philosophical metaphors such as LIFE IS A JOURNEY, LIFE IS HOPE, and LIFE IS TIME, emphasizing existential reflection and individual experience. In contrast, the Karakalpak linguistic worldview conceptualizes life through practical and didactic metaphorical models such as ÓMIR GÚRES (LIFE IS STRUGGLE) and ÓMIR MEKTEP(LIFE IS SCHOOL), reflecting moral values, labor, and social harmony. The study confirms that paremiological units function as an important means of preserving national worldview and transmitting culturally significant knowledge.