International Journal Of Literature And Languages
62
https://theusajournals.com/index.php/ijll
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
PAGE NO.
62-64
10.37547/ijll/Volume05Issue06-19
Linguocultural Characteristics Of Simbolic Meanings In
Different Languages
Muxammadaliyeva Shaxzoda Maxmud qizi
D.P.P.S (PhD), Tashkent State University of Uzbek Language and Literature, Uzbekistan
Received:
12 April 2025;
Accepted:
08 May 2025;
Published:
17 June 2025
Abstract:
The article reveals the linguistic and cultural characteristics of symbolic meanings in different languages
using the examples of the animal world, the plant world, the uniqueness of natural climatic conditions, and colors.
Keywords: -
Language, symbol, animal, plant, climatic conditions, color, wind.
Introduction:
Language is a priceless gift that reflects
the world, man, who is a part of it, and his thinking,
worldview, spirituality, and culture. “Among the
phenomena related to man, there is no other
phenomenon as complex, magnificent, and venerable
as language. Its complexity is as great as a spell, and its
magnificence is a symbol of endless imagination” [1; 3].
It also names a person’s attitude and imagination
towards the world. Such views are also reflected in the
symbols of a particular nation in linguistics.
Symbols are associated with human thinking, life
experience, lifestyle, and environment. The fact that
symbols differ in nations with different thinking styles
indicates that the generalizations based on symbolic
meaning and the national vision of the world are
different. For example, the moon is a symbol of
darkness and the afterlife for the Russian people, while
the Vietnamese, who live according to the lunar
calendar, consider it a symbol of goodness and beauty.
The existence of such differences can be explained by
various factors. We will touch on some of them here:
–
The uniqueness of the animal world: each region has
its own animal world that is suitable for its climate and
geographical location. People symbolize them based on
their characteristics and lifestyle. We can include
kangaroos and lions among such animals. The kangaroo
lives in Australia and is its symbol. Interestingly,
kangaroos cannot jump backwards. Their large tail
prevents them from jumping. Since Australians live in
their own territory and do not know how to walk
backwards, they made it their symbol (one that walks
forward, takes bold steps) in order to show that we are
a nation that always moves forward. Another flightless
bird living in Australia, the emu , also does not know
how to go back. Therefore, the kangaroo and emu are
depicted on the Australian coat of arms as symbols of
forward movement.
The lion is a symbol of strength, power, justice, and
cruelty. It was a symbol of royal authority in Scotland
and England in the Middle Ages, and in the 19th century
it represented the power of the British Empire. Due to
its above-mentioned symbolic meanings, we can see its
depiction on the flags of Armenia during the reign of
the Rubens and Hetum dynasties.
–
The uniqueness of the plant world: the plant world is
also unique in each country. Their symbolic meanings
stem from the properties of the plants. We can include
ginkgo and peonies among such plants. The ginkgo
plant is a tree that grows in China. It grows near
temples, and due to its longevity, it is considered a
symbol of immortality. In Japan, it is a symbol of loyalty.
Its average lifespan is 2,500 years, it is resistant to
strong winds, it has been around since ancient times,
and it is the only plant that grew after the nuclear
bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which is why it is
endowed with the above symbolic meanings.
In China, the peony has two symbolic meanings. The
first symbolizes power, glory, wealth and prosperity,
while the second symbolizes beauty and charm. In
China, the peony was originally grown in the gardens
International Journal Of Literature And Languages
63
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International Journal Of Literature And Languages (ISSN: 2771-2834)
and homes of emperors and wealthy officials, and only
during the Han Dynasty did it become popular
throughout China, making it a symbol of wealth today.
As is known, the fact that the peony is a symbol of
beauty is determined by its beautiful and attractive
flower.
In Japan, the lotus is a symbol of strength, elegance,
beauty, and good luck, but it is also a symbol of
determination and endurance. The Japanese people
pay attention to the fact that the lotus blooms on a
strong stem, and they attribute this to the lotus's
tenacity. Researcher I. Jamoliddinova , studying the
concept of determination in the Uzbek language ,
recognizes the Japanese as the most determined
people [2].
–
The uniqueness of natural climatic conditions: the
climate of countries differs from each other. Depending
on the natural phenomenon that exists or occurs
frequently in a particular country, the lexemes that
name it will be assigned different symbolic meanings.
We will consider the symbolic meanings of the names
of natural phenomena such as volcano and tornado.
The word volcano contains contradictory symbolic
meanings such as “creation and destruction”, “birt
h
and death”. The formation of such contradictory
meanings is based on the fact that as a result of a
powerful fiery eruption, it destroys the surrounding
area, resulting in the appearance of certain (silver,
copper, tin, diamond, etc.) deposits. Such symbolic
meanings of the name of a volcano exist only in the
place where the volcano erupts. For example, due to
the presence of volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands,
Central America, Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, it has a
symbolic meaning in these nations.
In the Uzbek linguistic culture, the volcano does not
have a symbolic meaning. On the contrary, in our
country, wind is considered a natural phenomenon that
is often observed, especially in the cities of Kokand and
Bekabad. For this reason, there are such combinations
as Kokand wind and Bekabad wind in our language .
Therefore, in the Uzbek language, the lexeme wind
expresses a symbolic meaning. It is a symbol of
“intensity”. In the “Explanatory Dictionary of the Uzbek
Language”, the lexeme wind is explained as foll
ows :
“Wind
- the (horizontal) movement of air along the
surface of the earth. Pleasant wind. Cool wind. Strong
wind stood” [3; 542]. The formation of the symbolic
meaning was caused by its speed semantics, and as a
result of this semantics, it began to denote the symbolic
meaning of intensity. This meaning is clearly evident in
the following words of Turab Tola about Usman Nasir:
“Usman came into our poetry like a wind. Maybe like a
storm! He came with such a storm and wave that he
completely destroyed poe
tic style and creativity” [4].
At the same time, nations have not only a national
worldview, but also a universal culture, commonality in
conceptualizing and categorizing the world, and the
totality of symbolic meanings of one lexeme. An
example of this is the symbolic meanings expressed
through colors. White is represented in almost all
cultures as a symbol of purity, honesty, goodness. This
color also means happiness, strength, health, eternity,
purity, purity, authority, survival, growth, maturity,
(gray hair, beard). Green in a number of cultures
represents renewal, spring, and survival. It is a symbol
of nature that gives blessings and peace, and in many
cultures, it is a symbol of youth, hope, and happiness.
Unique symbolic meanings are formed based on the
different evaluations of the world by people of
different nationalities and their diverse relationships to
the world. This is because, as Humboldt said,
“Languages are not only a means of expressing known
truths, but also a means of revealing previously
unknown truths. The difference between languages is
not only due to the difference in sounds and signs, but
also due to the difference in seeing the world” [5; 318
-
319].
From the earliest periods of human development,
people have symbolized objects, events, and
phenomena around them. A number of symbolic
images were created based on their relationship and
fear of animals, plants, and natural phenomena. Their
number was very small at first, but gradually increased,
their scope of meaning expanded, and their
significance increased. D. Abdullayeva expressed the
following thoughts about this in her article: “The
perception, description, and perception of the world
through symbols was formed at the very early stages of
the development of human thought. The symbol, as
one of the manifestations of figurative thinking, has
great importance in life and literature” [6; 74].
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, it can be said that one lexeme can have
different symbolic meanings in different languages.
Symbols reflect the worldview, mentality, and lifestyle
of certain nations. In people with different lifestyles,
the different aspects of symbols indicate the diversity
of their imagination, because the processes of
perception and interpretation of the surrounding world
are unique and reflect life experience and national
values. Symbolic meanings are one of the linguistic
units that indicate the uniqueness of the national
worldview.
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