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PRECEDENT PHENOMENA AS NATIONAL VALUES AND A SPIRITUAL-
MATERIAL FOUNDATION
Jalilov Baxtiyor Tulanovich
Andijan state foreign languages instuti, senior lecturer
b.jalilov1976@mail.ru +998902595424
ORCID ID 0009-0000-9013-1810
Annotation:
The article is devoted to the study of the precedent phenomenon in modern
linguistics, particularly examining the scholarly perspectives of various linguists on precedent
phenomena in English linguistics. In global linguistics, the study of thought and the formation,
preservation, and functions of speech from different angles has become a distinct tradition, with
cognitive-conceptual and linguocultural approaches holding particular significance. In this
regard, the concept of precedents and their application in discourse, reflecting the national
aspects of an individual’s worldview, occupies a specific place.
Keywords:
precedent phenomenon, precedent text, precedent situation, precedent utterance,
precedent name.
INTRODUCTION
Today, research focused on studying the aspects of linguistic worldviews related to
national mentality has become one of the most pressing areas in modern linguistics. The
existence of national peculiarities in the representation of the linguistic worldview was shaped
by the ideas of Wilhelm von Humboldt, the founder of comparative linguistics, who stated in
his scholarly works: "Different languages, due to their distinct existence, manifestation in
thought and consciousness, and variations in perception, reflect reality in different ways."
This
perspective remains relevant to this day, and many linguists continue to direct their research
toward analyzing the relationship between language and thought.
MATERIALS AND METODS
The term "precedent" was introduced into linguistics in the second half of the 20th
century by the Russian linguist Yu. N. Karaulov. Specifically, the term "precedent" initially
entered the Russian language from other European languages, namely English and French. This
term was borrowed into English during the Middle Ages from French, which, in turn, had
adopted it from the Latin forms "praecedent," "praecedens," and "praecedere."
RESULT AND DISCUSSIONS
The presence of national values and spiritual-material sources in precedent phenomena
has been extensively studied in numerous scholarly works. In this regard, the research of
Russian scholars such as G.G. Slyshkin, L.Yu. Fedorova, and E.A. Nakhimova holds particular
significance.
Precedent phenomena occupy a distinct place in the linguistic personality, reflecting in
various discourses not only individual perspectives of particular persons but also collective
views related to concepts and values within a worldview. This, in turn, enables us to understand
1
Гумбoльдт В. фoн. O различии стрoения челoвеческих языкoв и егo влиянии на духoвнoе развитие
челoвечества // Избранные труды пo языкoзнанию. М.: Прoгресс, 1984. – С 134.
2
Жалилов Б.Т. «Прецедент» термини ва унинг турли луғатлардаги изоҳи. Ўзбекистонда хорижий
тиллар, 2021, № 3(38), 31-40.
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the formation of concepts and perspectives shaped by culture and values, revealing not only
their social nature but also how they manifest in individual lives, thereby influencing people's
personalities and worldviews. Such 'hierarchies' in the development of precedent phenomena
have been analyzed in the theoretical works of S.N. Dolets, who describes them as follows:
1 - Scheme. Hierarchy of Precedent
Events
I - Precedent event used within a
linguistic-cultural context.
II - Precedent event known to a broad
social group.
III - Precedent event used within a
narrow group/circle.
IV - Precedent event related to specific
individuals.
According to this "hierarchy,"
the first group includes precedent
events that are equally familiar to all representatives of a given linguo-cultural community.
Yu.N. Karaulov once characterized these as having a "simple" (хрестоматийные) nature.
In turn, the conceptual content of these precedent phenomena possesses
a diachronic quality—they must convey meaning not only to representatives of a specific era
but also remain intelligible across all historical periods.
The precedent events categorized in subsequent groups, however, are
considered peripheral units. Those in the second group are limited by era, social group, or
gender perspective, meaning their conceptual representations are relevant only to a specific
historical period or community.
For instance, the English proper name "
Samson
" historically served as a precedent
concept denoting "
a mighty, strong man
." However, due to shifting religious literacy and
perspectives, it has now largely become a historism (a term fading from active use). The
symbolic meanings it once conveyed have begun to be expressed through other linguistic units,
influenced by evolving culture, social attitudes, and ideologies. The same ways can be observed
in concepts “
Mary-wisdom, smart
”, “
Goliath- great, huge
”.
Matilda was a tall, thin, graceful fair girl, with a rather large nose. She was the
Mary
to
Emmie’s
Martha
: that is, Matilda loved painting and music, and read a good many.
"The precedent names “
Martha”
and “
Mary
” mentioned in the example represent
religious precedents connected to Biblical narratives, specifically referencing the sisters of
Lazarus who hosted Jesus Christ in this context. In Christian culture, “
Mary
” serves as an
embodiment of the contemplative, observant, and spiritually perceptive (созерцание) concept,
while “
Martha”
represents the archetype of a diligent, caring homemaker.
However, contemporary observations reveal significant shifts in these conceptual
associations and symbolic representations. Notably, in modern American culture, the name
3
Дoлевец С. Oб иерархии прецедентных фенoменoв в сoзнании языкoвoй личнoсти // Пoлитическая
лингвистика. 2005. № 16. – С. 51.
4
Lawrence D. H. England, my England and other stories: You Touched Me. Cambridge University Press. 1990. –
P.65
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“Mary”
has acquired new connotations, particularly referring to “drug addiction” or
“marijuana”.
He pulled a little package of
Mary
out of his pocket.
I can't live another day without
Mary.
We can observe a similar phenomenon in the symbolic representation of “
Goliath”
as
“
gigantic
” or “
colossal
”. In modern English, this term has largely lost its original impact, with
its symbolic associations now being conveyed through the word “Titan” instead.
The precedent concepts classified in the third group of the aforementioned hierarchy are
confined to small social circles - such as families, professional teams, or friendship groups - and
are comprehensible only to members within these limited communities. Such precedent units
often exhibit characteristics of slang or jargon. What distinguishes them is not their causal
semantics, but rather the presence of uniquely encoded symbolic representations within their
precedent meaning.
The phrase "
Old Bill
"
is defined in the Collins Dictionary as slang denoting "a police
officer." Two
Old Bill's
came up to me and told me they had a warrant for my arrest.
However,
as a precedent unit, it represents the symbolic image of the Old Bill
“mustachioed soldier”
from World War I, where the distinctive attribute in its meaning is precisely the Old Bill
“mustache."
Here comes
Old Bill
himself.
The fourth category comprises precedent phenomena that reflect concepts formed
exclusively within individual consciousness, being strictly confined to that person's worldview,
linguistic identity, and personal interests. It should be emphasized that the migration of
precedent phenomena between these categories - both from core to periphery and vice versa -
constitutes a frequently observed dynamic. During the transition from periphery to core, we
observe a gradual erosion of the expression's precedential status, which consequently leads to
modifications in its distinctive characteristic features. This transformation occurs when the
referenced attributes undergo semantic shifts during the process of broader cultural assimilation.
When communicators lack familiarity with the referenced characteristic, the precedent fails to
achieve its intended effect. Typically, precedent phenomena originate as individual conceptual
references that gradually gain wider circulation, eventually becoming embedded in the
periphery - or more precisely, imprinted in the collective consciousness of linguocultural
communities or even entire civilizations. This process is recognized by scholars as the most
prevalent mechanism of precedent unit formation. However, this process is mediated by several
crucial factors including: (1) the contemporary relevance of the referenced values, (2) their
degree of dissemination, and (3) the social standing of the originator. Consequently, research
confirms that precedent formation mechanisms vary significantly across historical periods. In
5
https://1735.slovaronline.com/11221-mary
6
https://1735.slovaronline.com/11221-mary
7
https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/old-bill
8
Frank Norman. Bang to rights: an Account of Prison Life. Chatto & Windus. London: 1987. – P. 138
9
Herbert Hodge. Cab, Sir? M. Joseph, ltd. London. 1939. – P. 54
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our current era of advanced communication technologies and proliferating print/digital media,
we observe particularly robust dynamics in the emergence, development, and evolution of
precedent phenomena.
In conclusion, based on the collected and analyzed data regarding the subject, precedent
phenomena can be defined as communicative units that reference or are associated with
concepts reflecting cultural values specific to either individual persons or entire linguocultural
communities.
REFERENCES:
1. Frank Norman. Bang to rights: an Account of Prison Life. Chatto & Windus. London: 1987.
– P. 138
2. Herbert Hodge. Cab, Sir? M. Joseph, ltd. London. 1939. – P. 54
3. Lawrence D. H. England, my England and other stories: You Touched Me. Cambridge
University Press. 1990. – P.65
4. Gumboldt V. fon. O razlichii stroeniya chelovecheskix yazikov i yego vliyanii na duxovnoe
razvitiye chelovechestva // Izbrannie trudi po yazikoznaniyu. M.: Progres, 1984. – S 134
5. Doleves S. Ob iyerarxii pretsedentnix fenomenov v soznanii yazikovoy lichnosti // Politiche
skaya lingvistika. 2005. № 16. – S. 51.
6. Jalilov B.T. «Pretsedent» termini va uning turli lug‘atlardagi izohi. O‘zbekistonda xorijiy til
lar, 2021, № 3(38), 31-40.
7. https://1735.slovaronline.com/11221-mary
8. https://1735.slovaronline.com/11221-mary
9. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/old-bill
