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volume 4, issue 4, 2025
231
LINGUOCULTURAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPRESSING GRATITUDE IN
DIFFERENT SYSTEM LANGUAGES
Karimova Zulnura G‘ulamqodirovna
Tashkent State Agrarian University
Associate Professor of the
Department of “Languages”, PhD
Abstract:
This article analyzes expressions of gratitude in languages of different systems from
a linguocultural perspective. Expressing gratitude is closely tied to a society’s culture, traditions,
and moral values. The study emphasizes the form, usage context, and communicative functions
of gratitude expressions across various languages.
Keywords:
linguocultural, different system languages, gratitude, culture, etiquette, respect.
TURLI TIZIMLI TILLARDA MINNATDORLIK BILDIRISHNING
LINGVOMADANIY XUSUSIYATLARI
Karimova Zulnura G‘ulamqodirovna
Toshkent davlat agrar universiteti
“Tillar” kafedrasi dotsenti, PhD
Annotatsiya:
Ushbu maqolada turli tizimli tillarda minnatdorlik ifodasini anglatuvchi so‘z-
gaplar lingvomadaniy nuqtayi nazardan tahlil qilinadi. Minnatdorlik bildirish har bir
jamiyatning madaniyati, urf-odatlari va axloqiy qadriyatlari bilan chambarchas bog‘liq bo‘lib,
turli tillardagi minnatdorlik ifodasining shakli, qo‘llanish konteksti va kommunikativ
vazifalariga e’tibor qaratilgan.
Kalit so‘zlar:
lingvomadaniy, turli tizimli tillar, minnatdorlik, madaniyat, odob-axloq, hurmat.
Introduction
In the field of linguoculturology, national-cultural values that reflect the uniqueness and
specific characteristics of each linguistic unit and national culture are of great importance.
According to V.A. Maslova, "Cultural values play an essential role in human life and society
and manifest in various meanings. These values are reflected in language, from the meanings of
words to phraseologisms and folk proverbs. For example, negative human traits such as greed,
cowardice, disrespect for elders, and laziness are condemned in all cultures. However, each
culture combines these negative traits with different indicators.” Hence, cultural values are both
universal – common to all cultures – and individual, i.e., specific to each culture, and they
influence people and their relationships in society. These values manifest through language and
appear in various forms in different cultures. Through the linguocultural approach, the life
experiences of a nation, its perceptions of the world, and emotional reactions to knowledge are
encapsulated in specific concepts and passed down through generations. In Uzbek discourse,
there are also modal phrases that continue to be used in everyday speech:
– Qulluq, pirim, tasanno, pirim
, – egilishdi darvishlar. (
Qulluq, pirim, tasanno, pirim
– bowed
the dervishes. In this example from N. Abboskhon’s “Sho‘rqishloq”, the modal expressions
Qulluq, pirim,
and
tasanno
reflect traditional Uzbek communication values like respect,
humility, and sincerity.
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Expressions of Gratitude in Uzbek Speech
Though some of these forms like
pirim
have become outdated in modern Uzbek,
qulluq
and
tasanno
are still in use. The modal word
qulluq
means
“thank you”
or
“I’m grateful”
and is
used by both men and women. Historical works show that it was commonly used in place of
rahmat
(“thank you”) by people of all ages:
– Qani, oldik-e! – deb yubordi shunda Tavakkal – Mayli, bu yog‘iga xudo poshsho!..
Aytmoqchi, men Gulsara uchun ichaman... Quvvat, siz ham xonim uchun iching. – Nihoyat,
iymanib jilmaydi. – Men «nomard» dedim bu kishini. Aslida xursandman, xudo urinsin-a...
Zo‘r ayol ekansiz. Chesni aytayapman. Gul, siz uchun!
– Qulluq-qulluq,
– dedi u. (– Here, we’ve taken it! – shouted Tavakkal – Well then, may God
bless this... By the way, I drink to Gulsara... Kuvvat, you too drink for the lady. – He finally
smiled shyly. – I called him ‘dishonorable.’ But actually, I’m happy, may God forgive me…
You’re a great woman. Honestly. Gul, this one’s for you! –
Тhank you
, – she said) (Sh.
Kholmirzaev,
“Saylanma”)
Nowadays, the modal word
qulluq
is mainly found in the speech of elderly people. It is
considered a lexical unit that reveals the national character. For example:
– Yaxshi, – deyishdilar. – Bundan buyon bu ish bo‘lmasin, bu galcha siyladik. Keksa odam
ekansiz...
– Qulluq-qulluq
, – deb ta’zim qildi Hoji bobo, mirshablar “mol”ni topshirib ketdilar. (– Alright,
- they said. “This won’t happen again; we let you off this time. You're an elder...” –
Тhank you,
– said Hoji Baba with a bow, as the officers handed over the ‘goods’ and left) (G’. G’ulom,
“Shum Bola”)
Cross-Linguistic Comparisons of Gratitude Expressions
During the study, an exact equivalent for the Uzbek modal phrase qulluq was not found in
English, Russian, or French. This suggests that qulluq is a culturally specific expression used to
convey politeness and ethics among Uzbek speakers and is considered an untranslatable unit.
However, similar expressions of gratitude in other languages that approximate its meaning
include:
In
English:
respect,
you’re
welcome,
thank
you.
For
example:
“A puff from your bag when you got out your card. Your bag is lovely.”
“Thank you.”
(Th. Harris, “The Silence of the Lambs”) (Qulluq in context: Thank you)
In Russian: с поклоном, с уважением, с почтением, благодарю. For example:
– О, это весьма часто бывает! Это замечание ваше еще даже остроумнее давешнего…
– Благодарю-с
(– Oh, that happens quite often! Your comment is even more witty than the last
one…
–
Thank
you...)
(F.
Dostoevsky.
“Crime
and
Punishment”)
In French: merci. For example:
– Comme vous voyez, voisin Caderousse, et prêt à vous être agréable en quelque chose que ce
soit, répondit Dantès en dissimulant mal sa froideur sous cette offre de service.
–
Merci, merci
; heureusement, je n’ai besoin de rien, et ce sont même quelquefois les autres
qui ont besoin de moi. (– As you see, neighbor Caderousse, I’m ready to be helpful to you in
any way, – said Dantès. “
Thank you
; fortunately, I don’t need anything...) (A. Dumas, “The
Count of Monte Cristo”)
Cultural Features of Expressing Gratitude in Uzbek and Other Languages
The category of modal expressions reflects national culture and differs across languages in both
similarities and distinctions. These differences in modal expressions are shaped by the national-
cultural (linguocultural) characteristics of each language. For instance, each nation has its own
culturally defined methods of expressing respect. While concepts such as greeting, thanking,
parting, making requests, or agreeing with someone’s ideas are universally understood, the way
these are expressed varies across cultures. In Uzbek, expressions like
rahmat
(“thank you”) and
tashakkur
are used to express gratitude. Sometimes, these expressions are accompanied by
physical gestures–placing the right hand over the chest or bowing.
– Ma, sigareta olasan!
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233
– Rahmat, rahmat
! –
egilib-bukilib
minnatdorchiligini bildirdi Shokir. (– Hey, want a cigarette?
– Thank you!
– said Shokir,
bowing
repeatedly...)
People often express gratitude not only directly to a person but also to that person’s
parents as a gesture of respect.
Expressing thanks after a meal is a practice common to almost all cultures. Uzbeks and others
from Islamic cultures commonly say “
Khudoga shukur
” (“Thanks to God”). The modal word
shukur
comes from Arabic, meaning gratitude or contentment. Thus, in Uzbek,
shukur
is used
toward God, and
rahmat
toward people.
In Uzbek families, phrases like “The food was delicious, may your hands never suffer pain”
serve to express appreciation. These compliments are typically directed toward the cook and
reflect culturally ingrained etiquette.
Polite Refusals Using Gratitude Expressions in Uzbek and Other Languages
Unlike speakers of English, Russian, and French, Uzbeks often use the modal word
rahmat
(“thank you”) as a polite way to decline an offer. This reflects a cultural value of respect and
consideration for others. Such a refusal–rather than being a blunt “no” – serves to soften the
interaction.
- Uyga kiramizmi? – dedi Mirfayoz. – Kooot-ta bog‘im bor. Ko‘rasiz.
Polvon kulimsirab:
- Rahmat,
- dedi. – Nasib qilsa, yaxshi kunlarda bog‘ingizni ko‘ramiz. (– Shall we go inside? –
he said. – I have a big garden. You will see. Polvan smiled:
– No, thank you,
he said. “If it’s
meant to be, we’ll see your garden on a better day) (N. Qilich, “Chig‘iriq”)
Russian example:
Чужой человек достал из бокового кармана серебряный, с лодочкой на крышке,
портсигар; угощая Федота папироской, продолжал расспросы:
– Большой ваш хутор?
–
Спасибочки,
покурил. Хутор-то наш? Здоровый хутор. Никак, дворов триста. (The
stranger took a silver cigarette case with a boat on the lid out of his side pocket; treating Fedot
to a cigarette, he continued his questioning: – Is your farm big?
– Thank you
, I’ve already
smoked. (M. Sholokhov, “Quiet Flows the Don”)
English example:
“You
must
be
tired,
do
you
want
some
coffee?”
Roden
said.
“No, thank you.”
“Water?”
“No.”
(Th. Harris, “The Silence of the Lambs”)
French example:
– Il n’y a personne ici les mardis matin. Tu peux prendre une douche si tu veux…
– Non merci
.
Même si je suis sûre qu’on dirait que j’ai découché. (– You can take a shower if you like… –
No, thank you.
Even if I’m sure it looks like I stayed out all night) (M. Moncomble, “Un
automne pour te pardonner”)
Conclusion
In summary, the Uzbek modal expression
qulluq
holds a unique place in the communicative
culture of the Uzbek language. Though it has no exact equivalent in other languages, similar
expressions exist to convey gratitude. The modal phrase category reflects national culture and
shows differences and similarities across languages of different systems. In Uzbek, gratitude
may be expressed not only through words but also gestures. Phrases like
“Khudoga shukur”
and various compliments serve this purpose. Compared to English, Russian, and French, which
use more direct expressions, Uzbek gratitude phrases are rich with cultural nuance.
References
1.Maslova V.A. Linguoculturology. - M.: Publishing center "Academy", 2001. - 208 p.
2. Zhalolova F.N. “Ohay she” concepting linguomadaniya talkini (Inglis va uzbek halq ertaklari
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