Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная
лингвистика
и
лингводидактика
–
Foreign
Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Journal home page:
https://inscience.uz/index.php/foreign-linguistics
Identification, and analysis of instances illustrating
absolute and relative meanings in W.
Saroyan’s short
stories
Zilola ISAKOVA
Kokand State Pedagogical Institute
ARTICLE INFO
ABSTRACT
Article history:
Received April 2024
Received in revised form
10 May 2024
Accepted 25 May 2024
Available online
25 June 2024
This article presents an analysis of the skillful combination of
absolute and relative meanings in the narratives of U.V. Saroyan,
creating a multi-level picture of human experience. The study
focuses on how the author uses tense forms to structure his
stories and enrich the characters and their motivations.
Particular attention is paid to the analysis of the absolute and
relative meanings of tense forms and how they contribute to the
creation of specific meanings and effects in Saroyan's literary
works. This study provides further insight into how temporal
relationships influence the reception of stories and how they are
used to reveal the author's themes and ideas.
2181-3701
/©
2024 in Science LLC.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47689/2181-3701-vol2-iss1
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:
absolute meaning,
relative meaning,
symbols,
subjective interpretations,
personal experiences,
cultural backgrounds,
social contexts,
textual analysis,
thematic framework.
V. Saroyanning qisqa hikoyalarida mutlaq va nisbiy
ma
’
nolarni aks ettiruvchi misollar tahlili
ANNOTATSIYA
Kalit so‘zlar
:
mutlaq ma
’
no,
nisbiy ma
’
no,
sub
’
ektiv talqinlar,
shaxsiy tajribalar,
madaniy muhit,
ijtimoiy kontekstlar,
matn tahlili,
tematik asos
Saroyanning rivoyatlari mutlaq va nisbiy ma
’
nolarni
mohirona birlashtirib, inson tajribasining boy va batafsil
tasvirini yaratadi. Mutlaq elementlar hikoyalar uchun asos va
tuzilmani yaratadi, nisbiy elementlar esa personajlar va
ularning motivlariga chuqurlik va murakkablik qo
‘
shadi. Ushbu
tadqiqotda biz adabiyotda vaqt shakllaridan foydalanishni,
muallif vaqt munosabatlarini qanday etkazishini va o
‘
ziga xos
ma
’
no va ta
’
sirlarni keltirib chiqarishini tahlil qilishga harakat
1
PhD, Kokand State Pedagogical Institute.
2
Senior lecturer, Kokand State Pedagogical Institute.
3
Student, Kokand State Pedagogical Institute.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
1 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
305
qildik. Ushbu tadqiqot taniqli yozuvchi V. Saroyanning qisqa
hikoyalarida namoyon bo
‘
lgan vaqt shakllarining mutlaq va
nisbiy manoni o
‘
rganadi.
Выявление и анализ примеров, иллюстрирующих
абсолютные и относительные значения в рассказах
У.
Сарояна
АННОТАЦИЯ
Ключевые слова:
абсолютное значение,
относительное значение,
символы,
субъективные
интерпретации,
личный опыт,
культурные корни,
социальные контексты,
текстовый анализ,
тематическая структура
.
В этой статье представлен анализ умелого сочетания
абсолютных и относительных значений в повествованиях
У.В.
Сарояна,
создающего
многоуровневую
картину
человеческого опыта. Исследование фокусируется на том,
как
автор
использует
временные
формы
для
структурирования
своих
рассказов
и
обогащения
персонажей и их мотивов. Особое внимание уделяется
анализу
абсолютных
и
относительных
значений
временных форм и тому, как они способствуют созданию
специфических значений и эффектов в литературных
произведениях Сарояна. Это исследование позволяет
глубже понять, как временные отношения влияют на
восприятие рассказов и как они используются для
раскрытия тем и идей автора.
INTRODUCTION
William Saroyan, a celebrated master of the short story form, is renowned for his
ability to capture the essence of human experience with profound simplicity and depth.
His narratives traverse the complexities of the human condition, exploring universal
themes such as love, loss, hope, and resilience. Central to Saroyan's storytelling is the
interplay between absolute and relative meanings, a recurrent motif that enriches the
tapestry of his tales
Saroyan's genius lies in his deft weaving of absolute and relative meanings,
creating a dynamic interplay that deepens the resonance of his narratives. Through vivid
descriptions, nuanced characterizations, and introspective reflections, he invites readers
to contemplate both the universality of the human experience and the uniqueness of
individual perspectives.
By examining key passages, characters, and symbols from selected Saroyan short
stories, we can unravel the intricate tapestry of absolute and relative meanings that
imbue his work with depth and profundity. From the poignant portrayal of cultural
displacement in "Seventy Thousand Assyrians" to the allegorical exploration of love,
sacrifice, and societal norms in "The Shepherd's Daughter," Saroyan's narratives offer a
rich tapestry of human experience that transcends temporal and spatial boundaries.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The studies on absolute and relative meanings in lexical semantics are used to gain
an appreciation of how language expresses the practical knowledge of human
understanding, emotions, and the social world. The study of short stories' meanings
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
1 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
306
began in the 19th century. During this time, some authors and critics examined narrative
forms, including their thematic characteristics, structural elements, and interpretative
aspects. One notable American writer, William Saroyan, emerged as a significant figure in
modern literature in the mid-20th century. He employed unique narrative styles. During
the 20th and 21st centuries, literary scholars researched the meanings of Saroyan’s short
stories. The linguistic roots of narrative meanings and also their origin among different
cultural contexts were investigated by many scholars. They examined the etymology,
semantic, and structural aspects of story meanings. For instance, Arthur Asa Berger, the
author of “Saroyan: A Biography,” studied and classified Saroyan's narrative techniques.
This book consists of specific information about Saroyan's literary style and provides
etymological insights, as well as historical usage and references to literary sources.
Further research, “The Time of Your Life: A Study of William Saroyan's Major Works,”
was written by Kenneth E. Silverman. This book consists of the symbolism and cultural
importance of Saroyan's stories throughout history. The next study was done by Leo
Hamalian and Edmund J. Sullivan, who researched and wrote “William Saroyan: The Man
and the Writer Remembered.” This interdisciplinary book indicates various concepts of
Saroyan’s works which relate to semantic dimensions of them, including insights into the
linguistic and cultural aspects of his narrative techniques [1, 25].
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The analysis focuses on a selection of Saroyan's short stories, chosen for their
thematic richness and emblematic portrayal of absolute and relative meanings. Literary
and content analysis is used to examine key passages, characters, and symbols,
elucidating their significance within the larger thematic framework of each story
ANALYSIS AND RESULTS
In W. Saroyan's short stories, the use of symbolic language and metaphorical
expressions transcends time and particularity, providing readers with profound insights
into absolute and relative meanings embedded within the narratives. Saroyan's literary
constructs evoke layers of interpretation, reflecting the complexities of human
experience. In
"Seventy Thousand Assyrians
," Saroyan masterfully employs symbolism to
depict the plight of the Assyrian people amidst the chaos of war. Through vivid imagery
and allegorical elements, Saroyan illuminates the universal themes of resilience and
human suffering. The struggles of the Assyrian community as they face displacement and
upheaval, set against the backdrop of political turmoil, the narrative follows the journey
of the Assyrians as they leave their homeland in search of refuge and stability.
Throughout the story, Saroyan explores themes of cultural identity, loss, resilience, and
the enduring human spirit. The narrative vividly portrays the challenges faced by the
Assyrians as they grapple with questions of identity, belonging, and survival amidst
adversity.
"Seventy Thousand Assyrians"
offers readers a poignant glimpse into the
experiences of a community grappling with displacement and longing for home.
Instances within the narrative that illuminate both absolute and relative meanings are
the narrator's need for a haircut after forty days and nights is an absolute reality. This
physical necessity is universally understood and transcends individual interpretation.
The narrator's reference to
"barbarians from Asia Minor"
as
"hairy people"
highlights a
cultural stereotype that also may be considered as an absolute meaning. It reflects a
commonly held perception or belief about a particular group of people.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
1 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
307
Similarly, in "The Shepherd's Daughter," Saroyan delves into themes of
craftsmanship, storytelling, and the transmission of cultural values across generations.
The narrative, framed as a piece of autobiography, explores the relationship between the
narrator and his grandmother, who imparts wisdom through the retelling of a story
involving the shepherd's daughter. Through the lens of this fairytale-like narrative,
Saroyan invites readers to contemplate the importance of tangible creation and
storytelling in shaping one's identity and understanding of the world. The juxtaposition
of the grandmother's philosophical musings with the enchanting tale of the shepherd's
daughter underscores the interconnectedness of personal experience and collective
mythmaking.
The story starts like a piece of autobiography, told behalf of the 1st person
singular, as the author introduces his grandmother as a woman, who thinks
“Every man
should know how to craft, create something that can be touched, used”.
Without paying any
attention to describing his grandmother's appearance, the author immediately proceeds
to the story his grandmother wants to tell him to back her ideas about manhood.
It turned out to be the story involving the actual “shepherd's daughter”. The story is told
in a way like a fairytale.
"It is the opinion of my grandmother, God bless her, that all men should labor, and at
the table, a moment ago, she said to me: 'You must learn to do some good work, the making
of some item useful to man, something out of clay, or out of wood, or metal, or cloth. It is not
proper for a young man to be ignorant of an honorable craft. Is there anything you can do?
Can you make a simple table, a chair, a plain dish, a rug, a coffee pot? Is there anything you
can do?' And my grandmother looked at me with anger. 'I know,' she said, 'you are supposed
to be a writer, and I suppose you are. You certainly smoke enough cigarettes to be anything,
and the whole house is full of the smoke, but you must learn to make solid things, things that
can be used, that can be seen and touched.'"
The narrative unfolds against a backdrop of absolute meanings, notably
exemplified by the grandmother's staunch belief in the value of labor and craftsmanship.
Her insistence on practical skills underscores a fixed societal norm, emphasizing the
importance of tangible contributions to society. Additionally, the king's response to his
son's desire to marry a shepherd's daughter reflects absolute meanings concerning social
hierarchy and royal lineage, highlighting entrenched class distinctions.
Interwoven with absolute meanings are instances of relative meanings,
particularly evident in characters' individual aspirations and emotional expressions.
Despite the grandmother's emphasis on practicality, there's a relative meaning in her
acknowledgment of the protagonist's aspiration to be a writer, suggesting a willingness
to embrace personal ambitions. Similarly, the son's declaration of love for the shepherd's
daughter challenges societal norms, emphasizing personal choice and emotional
fulfillment over traditional expectations.
The narrative intricately blends absolute and relative meanings, presenting a
nuanced portrayal of human experience. The tension between tradition and personal
fulfillment serves as a focal point, illustrating the complex interplay between fixed
societal norms and individual desires. Through the juxtaposition of absolute and relative
meanings, Saroyan invites readers to contemplate the dynamic nature of human
relationships and societal expectations.
Xorijiy lingvistika va lingvodidaktika
–
Зарубежная лингвистика
и лингводидактика
–
Foreign Linguistics and Linguodidactics
Special Issue
–
1 (2024) / ISSN 2181-3701
308
From Saroyan's "The Shepherd's Daughter" to the anecdote shared by the
grandmother, absolute meaning is found in pivotal events, concrete actions, and clear
moral lessons.
CONCLUSION
Saroyan's narratives serve as a canvas upon which absolute meanings, rooted in
concrete actions and societal norms, are juxtaposed with the subtleties of relative
meanings, reflecting individual aspirations and emotional expressions. Through vivid
descriptions and allegorical elements, Saroyan masterfully crafts stories that transcend
temporal and spatial boundaries, resonating with readers across generations.
Throughout both narratives, absolute meanings are found in pivotal events and
concrete actions, while relative meanings emerge in characters' individual aspirations
and emotional expressions. The tension between tradition and personal fulfillment
serves as a focal point, illustrating the dynamic nature of human relationships and
societal expectations.
REFERENCES:
1.
Asa Berge, A.Saroyan: A Biography.
–
HarperCollins First Edition
–
1984
2.
Balakian, N. The World of William Saroyan
–
Lewisburg: Bucknell University
Press
–
1998.
3.
Ehrlich S. Point of View: A Linguistic Analysis of Literary Style
–
London:
Routledge
–
1990.
4.
Hamalian, L,Sullivan E. J William Saroyan: The Man and the Writer Remembered.
–
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
–
1997
5.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Saroyan
6.
https://kinnareads.com/2010/03/15/seventy-thousand-assyrians-william-saroyan/
7.
https://pewat776.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/laughter-by-william-saroyan/
8.
https://studymoose.com/shepherds-daughter-by-william-saroyan-essay
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https://www.foreversaroyan.com/about-william-saroyan
10.
Saroyan, W. The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze.
–
New York City:
Random House 1934.
