Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika –
Зарубежная лингвистика и
лингводидактика – Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
Linguocultural analysis of lacuna (based on the images of
King Arthur, Robin Hood, Shirak, and Tumaris)
Dilnoza TURSUNOVA
1
Andijan Branch of Kokand University
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received March 2025
Received in revised form
10
April 2025
Accepted 2 April 2025
Available online
25 May 2025
This article examines linguocultural lacuna found in English
and Uzbek folklore from a linguocultural perspective. Using the
legendary figures of King Arthur, Robin Hood, Shirak, and
Tumaris, the paper analyzes cultural concepts, semantic gaps,
translation challenges, and discourse-specific features within a
comprehensive analytical framework. The results contribute to
the development of linguoculturology, translation studies, and
intercultural communication theory.
2181-3701/© 2025 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol3-iss5
This is an open-access article under the Attribution 4.0 International
(CC BY 4.0) license (
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.ru
Keywords:
lacuna,
linguoculturology,
cultural concept,
translation,
folklore,
discourse.
Lakunalarning lingvokulturologik tahlili (Qirol Artur,
Robin Gud, Shirak va To’maris obrazlari asosida)
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar:
lakuna,
lingvokulturologiya,
madaniy konsept,
tarjima,
folklor,
diskurs.
Ushbu maqolada ingliz va o‘zbek folkloridagi lakunalar
lingvokulturologik nuqtai nazardan tahlil qilinadi. Qirol Artur,
Robin Gud, Shiroq va To’maris kabi afsonaviy obrazlar misolida
madaniy konseptlar, semantik bo‘shliqlar, tarjima muammolari
hamda diskursga xos xususiyatlar kompleks tahlil asosida
yoritiladi. Tadqiqot natijalari lingvokulturologiya, tarjima
nazariyasi va madaniyatlararo kommunikatsiya rivojiga hissa
qo‘shadi.
1
Lecturer, Andijan Branch of Kokand University Doctoral student, Karshi State University.
E-mail: tursunovadilnoza95@gmail.com
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 5 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
424
Лингвокультурологический анализ лакун (на основе
образов Короля Артура, Робин Гуда, Широка и Томарис)
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
лакуна,
лингвокультурология,
культурный концепт,
перевод,
фольклор,
дискурс.
В статье проводится лингвокультурологический анализ
лакун, встречающихся в английском и узбекском
фольклоре. На примере легендарных персонажей – Короля
Артура, Робин Гуда, Широка и Томарис – исследуются
культурные концепты, семантические пробелы, сложности
перевода и дискурсивные особенности в рамках
комплексного
подхода.
Результаты
способствуют
развитию лингвокультурологии, теории перевода и
межкультурной коммуникации.
INTRODUCTION
Lacuna are lexical units that exist in one language system but lack a full semantic
and conceptual equivalent in another language. They emerge due to discrepancies in
cultural, social, or conceptual frameworks and thus reflect the unique worldview
embedded in each language. Lacuna are crucial in the fields of
intercultural
communication
,
translation studies
, and
comparative linguistics
, as they highlight
the cultural and cognitive gaps between linguistic systems (Sorokin & Markarova, 1996).
The science of linguoculturology studies the intrinsic relationship between
language and culture. As noted by E.M. Vereshchagin and V.G. Kostomarov, "culture
cannot exist outside language" (Vereshchagin, Kostomarov, 1983, p. 15), thus oral
folklore represents the most vivid expression of national culture embodied in language.
The phenomenon of lacuna – elements present in one language but lacking direct
equivalents in another – reveals cognitive and cultural differences across societies
(Vorobyov, 1997). This paper aims to identify the conceptual, semantic, and discursive
characteristics of linguocultural lacuna based on the figures of King Arthur, Robin Hood,
Shirak, and Tumaris.
The Nature of Linguistic Lacuna
Primarily, lacuna refers to
semantic voids
in the lexical system of a language.
These voids emerge from
conceptual mismatches
between languages. There are
different types of lacuna:
Nominal lacuna
– when a particular object, tradition, or cultural element has a
name in one language but lacks a direct equivalent in another.
o
Example
:
Thanksgiving Day
(a culturally specific holiday in the U.S.) has no direct
counterpart in Uzbek.
Verbal lacuna
– refer to actions or states that are lexicalized in one language but
cannot be succinctly or adequately rendered in another.
o
Example
:
to procrastinate
has no direct verb equivalent in Uzbek and must be
explained periphrastically.
Classification of Lacuna
Lacuna can be categorized according to various linguistic and cultural criteria:
a) By linguistic system:
Lexical lacuna
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 5 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
425
Semantic lacuna
Morphological lacuna
Pragmatic lacuna
b) By cultural basis:
Realia lacuna
– related to cultural artifacts, institutions, foods, clothing, etc.
o
Example: pub, salla
Conceptual lacuna
– reflect culturally unique notions or mental constructs.
o
Example: privacy, kattalik (social status in Uzbek context)
c) By degree of translatability:
Partially translatable
lacuna
Descriptively translatable
lacuna
Untranslatable
or
zero-equivalent
lacuna
Etymological Analysis of Lacuna
Etymological analysis of lacuna involves tracing its origin, semantic evolution, and
cultural embeddedness. It enables a deeper understanding of how certain words
emerged and how they relate to the historical and sociocultural realities of a specific
community.
Key elements of etymological analysis include:
The source of the word (e.g., Proto-Turkic, Latin, Greek, Anglo-Saxon);
The semantic shift or broadening that occurred over time.
The cultural connotations that have developed around the term.
Examples:
Pub – derived from public house (Anglo-Saxon origin); in English culture, it is not just
a place to drink but a social center. There is no complete equivalent in Uzbek, where the
closest might be choyxona (teahouse), but its function and connotation differ significantly.
Salla – a traditional Uzbek male headdress symbolizing dignity, maturity, and
religious adherence. It has no cultural or linguistic equivalent in English.
Kattalik – a culturally embedded concept in Uzbek that reflects respect based on
age and social standing. While English may use terms like seniority or status, they lack
the same cultural weight and structure.
METHODOLOGY
This study employs the following methods:
Conceptual analysis (Stepanov, Shmelev): understanding culturally embedded
concepts;
Semantic and translation analysis: examining meaning loss or distortion in
translation;
Discourse analysis (Karasik, Fairclough): identifying social roles and cultural
models in folklore discourse.
Primary sources include original English and Uzbek folklore texts and their
translations, supported by contemporary linguocultural literature.
RESULTS
Conceptual Lacuna
The "Round Table" concept from the King Arthur legend symbolizes equality,
knighthood, and collective decision-making in British society – ideas that have no direct
counterpart in Uzbek culture. Yu.S. Stepanov refers to such concepts as "coded signs of
culture" (Stepanov, 1997, p. 40).
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 5 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
426
The notion of "yeoman" in the Robin Hood legend represents a free commoner
with elevated social status, a concept foreign to traditional Uzbek culture. As the text
states: "Robin was a bold yeoman who robbed the rich and gave to the poor..." (Pyle,
1883, p. 27).
Tumaris’s quest for revenge for her son reflects the ancient Turkic ideology of
justice on behalf of the nation. Unlike Western matriarchal figures, this character
demonstrates a woman's active political role within collective identity.
Semantic Lacuna
The Uzbek phrase "non sindirish" (breaking bread), seen in the epic "Alpomish" –
"The girl broke the bread to give her blessing" – is a ceremonial expression of
matrimonial consent. There is no direct equivalent in English. In contrast, the phrase
from Robin Hood, "He offered the Sheriff a wedding breakfast," refers to a morning
wedding ritual unique to Western culture, which does not exist in Uzbek tradition. Such
expressions result in semantic lacuna during translation.
Tumaris's symbolic act – beheading the enemy and placing it in a wineskin filled
with blood, followed by the words: "You were thirsty for blood – now drink your fill!" – is
alien to Western aesthetic norms.
Discursive Lacuna
The Shirak legend centers around sacrificial patriotism: "I shall die, but my people
shall live." This model of heroism differs significantly from the pragmatic Western
narrative, where self-sacrifice is less idealized.
Robin Hood, although an outlaw, is portrayed as a restorer of justice – a classic example
of the "outlaw hero." In Uzbek thought, lawbreakers are seldom seen as positive figures.
DISCUSSION
The findings demonstrate that lacuna are not merely lexical or semantic gaps
but reflect deeper cultural and conceptual differences. As V.V. Vorobyov notes,
"a linguocultural lacuna is a concept that exists in one culture but lacks expression in
another" (Vorobyov, 1997, p. 112).
While King Arthur and Robin Hood represent ideals of personal bravery, equality,
and freedom in the West, Tumaris and Shirak exemplify Eastern values of sacrifice,
collective identity, and national dignity. These differences hold significant implications
for translation, linguistic studies, and intercultural understanding.
CONCLUSION
Lacuna emdiv the divergence between languages and cultural models. They
manifest at:
The conceptual level – through culturally unique ideas;
The semantic level – via loss or distortion in translation;
The discursive level – through speech roles and cultural functions.
Analyzing lacuna using the images of King Arthur, Robin Hood, Shirak, and
Tumaris offers valuable insights into national worldviews, translation theory, and
intercultural dialogue.
REFERENCES:
1.
Vereshchagin, E.M., Kostomarov, V.G. Language and Culture. – Moscow: IRYA
RAN, 1983.
2.
Vorobyov, V.V. Linguoculturology: Theory and Methods. – Moscow: Gnosis, 1997.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika – Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика – Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue – 5 (2025) / ISSN 2181-3701
427
3.
Stepanov, Yu.S. Constants: Dictionary of Russian Culture. – Moscow: Languages
of Russian Culture, 1997.
4.
Pyle, H. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. – New York: Dover Publications, 1883.
5.
Ellis, D. Arthurian Legends and Medieval Heroism. – Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2001.
6.
Chambers, R. Robin Hood and the English Outlaw Tradition. – London:
Routledge, 2003.
7.
Abdullayeva, S. The Legend of Tumaris: History and Interpretation. – Tashkent:
Ma’naviyat, 2018.
8.
Shodieva, N.K. Female Images in Uzbek Folklore. – Tashkent: Fan, 2017.
