American Journal Of Philological Sciences
32
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ajps
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue02 2025
PAGE NO.
32-34
10.37547/ajps/Volume05Issue02-09
Theoretical views on linguistic anthropomorphism and
their role in the study of the language system
Adiba Yusupova
Basic doctoral student, Institute of Uzbek Language, Literature and Folklore of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Received:
07 December 2024;
Accepted:
09 January 2025;
Published:
11 February 2025
Abstract:
The article discusses the term anthropomorphism, the study of anthropomorphic metaphors in world
linguistics, the theoretical views of scientists, the specific features of research, the linguocultural and social
significance of approaches using the concept of anthropomorphism in the study of metaphors, the possibilities of
expression, the reasons for their formation, the linguocultural characteristics of anthropomorphisms.
Keywords:
Anthropomorphism, metaphor, anthropomorphic metaphor, linguistic anthropomorphism, man and
language, language and culture, language and society.
Introduction:
Anthropomorphic metaphor is one of the
bright phenomena reflecting the specific features and
ontological essence of the national language, which is
distinguished by the breadth and diversity of
possibilities for expressing mentality. Therefore, in
Uzbek linguistics, at a time when the problem of the
commonality of language and culture, language and
communication, language and spirituality, language
and spirituality is acute, the study of anthropomorphic
metaphor, its linguistic research, and its linguocultural,
cognitive and sociolinguistic description are emerging
as an urgent problem. Due to the dominant role of the
anthropomorphic approach to language in modern
linguistics, great attention is paid to the study of
anthropomorphic metaphors in the system terms of
various branches of science. Anthropomorphisms
create a traditional and unique conceptosphere,
requiring scientific study of the theoretical basis for
revealing the unique and universal features of the
language and culture of a particular nation.
In this regard, linguistic anthropomorphism has
aroused the interest of various scholars in such fields as
linguistics, anthropology, psychology, and cognitive
science. In particular, Russian linguists have also
studied the issue related to this term in detail in their
research. Many linguists, such as A.V.Myasnikova,
N.D.Arutyunova,
S.G.Dudetskaya,
I.V.Pashkova,
Y.Y.Pimenova, and N.O.Samarkina, emphasize that
anthropomorphic metaphors play an important role in
explaining
complex
concepts,
describing
the
environment, and in the processes of thinking and
perception
[1.33].
The
term
linguistic
anthropomorphism is one of the means of expressing
the characteristics of the human personality.
N.D.Arutyunova in her research considers this
phenomenon to be an integral part of the linguistic
picture of the world, which is characteristic of many
languages and cultures. She emphasizes that
anthropomorphism in language is not just a stylistic
feature, but an important mechanism as a central
subject that organizes a pers
on’s perception of himself
and the world around him through the prism of human
characteristics and experience. N.D.Arutyunova
analyzes how anthropomorphism manifests itself in
various aspects of language. For example,
–
the use of personal pronouns or verb forms that can
be characteristic not only of people in certain
languages, but also of inanimate objects or animals (in
grammatical categories);
–
in many languages, natural phenomena or inanimate
objects contain expressions that attribute human
qualities
, for example, “the sun is setting”, “the water
is speaking (in metaphors and expressions)”, she
explains.
The ideas and theories surrounding linguistic
anthropomorphism demonstrate its multifaceted
nature. From cognitive and psychological concepts to
cultural and linguistic analyses, scholars agree that
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
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American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
anthropomorphism
is
a
powerful
tool
for
understanding how language reflects and shapes
human experience.
It allows individuals and communities to navigate
complex ideas, develop emotional connections, and
express cultural identities, demonstrating the profound
influence of language on how people perceive the
world, understand each other, and relate to each other.
The following scholars also argue that linguistic
anthropomorphism
is
an
important
tool
in
understanding language and culture. It helps to identify
cultural meanings and shapes the connections between
people and the world around them:
In his book “Thinking and Speech,” psychologist Lev
Vygotsky discusses how language shapes thinking and
perception
of
the
world.
He
argues
that
anthropomorphism helps people understand the
reality around them by giving objects human
characteristics [2.94].
Another Russian literary critic, Yuri Lotman, analyzes
how anthropomorphism serves as a cultural symbol by
representing the basic values and concepts of the
world. He examines how cultural texts use
anthropomorphic images to convey meaning [3.111].
Translator and linguist Valentin Malakhov, in his book
“Metaphor and Image in Poetry,” studies the use of
anthropomorphism in literature, emphasizing its role in
establishing an emotional connection between a
person and the world around him [4.67].
Anthropomorphisms have been studied mainly
through literary texts and works of art. Linguist and
specialist in children's literature Irina Sergeyevna
Romanovskaya, in her work “Children’s Literature:
Structure and Meaning,” analyzes anthropomorphism
in children's literature, drawing attention to its role in
the formation of moral ideas and values in children
[5.45].
Russian linguist and advertising scholar Elena
Vladimirovna
Becker,
in
her
article
“Anthropomorphism in Advertising,” examines how
anthropomorphic images are used in popular culture
and marketing to create an emotional connection with
consumers [6.23].
Russian linguist, academician Andrey Anatolyevich
Zaliznyak, in his articles on language and culture,
examines how anthropomorphic expressions reflect
national and cultural characteristics and emphasizes
their importance in understanding the worldview of
different peoples [7.89].
These ideas of Russian scholars show that linguistic
anthropomorphism is a fundamental tool in the study
of language and culture, and serves to identify the
semantic relationships between people and the world
around them.
In world linguistics, some ideas and theories of
linguistic anthropomorphism of not only Russian, but
also well-known English researchers are presented. In
particular, the ideas of linguists George Lakoff and
Mark Johnson about anthropomorphism, metaphors
and cognitive structures are covered in their work
“Metaphors We Live By” [8.90] (1980). In this book,
Lakoff and Mark Johnson analyze the relationship
between language and thinking, explaining how people
understand and imagine abstract concepts through
concrete experiences. For example, by describing time
as a river and associating it with a concrete event (a
river), they illustrate the expressions Time flies, Time
should not be delayed; and by describing emotions as a
storm, they show that an abstract concept can be
strong and uncontrollable, with examples such as There
was a storm inside him, My heart shook like a storm.
Lakoff and Johnson argue that such metaphorical
expressions reflect people's cognitive structures, that
is, their thinking and worldview. They argue that,
through anthropomorphism, people create unique and
complex concepts based on their own experiences.
Anthropologist Clifford Geertz also argues that
anthropomorphism is a way of interpreting the specific
features of a culture and creating general meanings in
language; it can express the values, beliefs, and social
norms of different cultures by attributing human
characteristics to non-human individuals, and can
demonstrate cultural identity. At the same time, he
emphasizes that a particular language speaker can use
anthropomorphism to interpret his or her worldview
and culture, explaining that this is done by attributing
human characteristics to non-human things and
objects (animals, natural phenomena, or other
objects). In his opinion, anthropomorphism is
important in vividly reflecting the cultures of different
nations, expressing their values, beliefs, and social
norms, as well as in creating cultural identity and its
types [9.300].
CONCLUSION
English scholars emphasize the multifaceted nature of
linguistic anthropomorphism, identifying its cognitive,
emotional, and cultural dimensions. They highlight the
effects of anthropomorphism on everything from
thought formation and empathy development to
storytelling and environmental awareness. This
concept helps to understand language, culture, and the
interrelationships between them more deeply.
Russian
scholars
emphasize
that
linguistic
anthropomorphism is a tool for understanding culture,
language, and human cognition, through which cultural
American Journal Of Philological Sciences
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American Journal Of Philological Sciences (ISSN
–
2771-2273)
values and norms are expressed, and is one of the
important tools for establishing connections between
people and the world around them. Research in this
area continues to deepen our understanding of how
language shapes our perception and our interactions
with the world, with particular attention being paid to
the fact that as a person begins to understand the
environment and existence, he creates a linguistic
picture based on the naming or representation of
objects and phenomena outside himself, relying on
div parts, his own actions, and his own
characteristics.
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https://lektsii.org/12-47199.html. Arutyunova, N.D.
Metaphor and discourse // Teoriya metafory /
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L.Vygotsky. Thinking and speech. State socio-
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362 p.
Y.Lotman.
Semiotics
and
literary
process.
Humanitarian agency Academic Project St. Petersburg
2002. 551p
V.Malakhov. “Metaphor and image and poetry”. p. 67
-
75
I.S.Romanovskaya. “Children’s literature: struc
ture and
sense” 45
-55
E.W.Becker. “Anthropomorphism and advertising”. p.
23-30
A.Zaleznyak. “Language and culture”. p. 89
-95.
George Lakoff and Mark Johnsen. Metaphors we live
by. London: The University of Chicago Press., 2003. 242
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Clifford Geertz. The interpretation of cultures selected
essays. Basic Books, Inc., NEW YORK © 1973 by Basic
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