The Concept of “Family / Үй-бүлө” as a Reflection of the Traditional Values of the Russian and Kyrgyz Peoples

Abstract

This article examines the concept of "family" as a significant component of the national conceptual sphere and a means of reflecting the traditional values of the Russian and Kyrgyz peoples. The relevance of this study stems from the growing interest of modern cultural linguistics in the mechanisms of linguistic conceptualization of basic cultural values and the identification of nationally specific features within the linguistic worldview. The aim of this study is to identify universal and ethnoculturally marked features of the concept of "family" in the Russian and Kyrgyz languages. The study material includes lexical units, phraseological units, proverbs, and sayings representing ideas about family, kinship, and family values. The study employs methods of conceptual, semantic, cultural, and comparative analysis. Results demonstrate that in both linguistic cultures, family is conceptualized as a fundamental social and moral value associated with unity, mutual support, intergenerational continuity, and the responsibility of family members. However, the Kyrgyz linguistic worldview is characterized by a more pronounced representation of extended kinship ties, respect for elders, tribal affiliation, and collective responsibility. In the Russian linguistic worldview, alongside ideas of kinship unity and mutual assistance, emotional closeness, domesticity, and interpersonal relationships within the family occupy a significant place. It is concluded that the concept of "family" possesses a universal core value, but its peripheral features are shaped by the historical experience, traditions, and sociocultural norms of the Russian and Kyrgyz peoples.