Linguocultural models of positive assessment of female appearance: based on the material of Crimean Tatar and English languages

Abstract

The subject of the study comprises linguocultural models of positive evaluation of female appearance, verbalized in the Crimean Tatar and English languages at the levels of vocabulary, phraseology, and paremiology. The analysis focuses on lexemes (adjectives and nouns), phraseological units, conventional comparisons, paremias, as well as folklore texts (song genres chyn and maneler, ritual formulas) that represent positive external qualities of women – facial features, figure, body build, and appearance in general. The ways of metaphorization (comparison with natural objects, precious stones, celestial bodies) and the axiological dominants underlying evaluative judgments, including their historical dynamics, are studied. Special attention is paid to the comparative aspect: universal mechanisms of evaluation and ethnically marked differences conditioned by the historical and cultural development of Crimean Tatars and English people, their value orientations, and religious-ethical traditions are revealed. The research is based on comparative, component, and semantic-stylistic analysis of linguistic units. The theoretical foundation consists of works on cognitive linguistics and linguoculturology. The empirical material is extracted by means of a full sampling from dictionaries and folklore texts of the two languages. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of linguocultural models of positive evaluation of female appearance in two different systemic languages has been conducted. Significant differences in their perception were identified during the study. The Crimean Tatar model is characterized by a collectivist-ethical approach, where beauty is viewed as an integral part of spirituality and moral values. In contrast, the English model has an individualistic-contemplative nature, focusing on visual aspects and pragmatism. These differences highlight the influence of cultural and social contexts on the formation of notions of female beauty. Thus, the results of the study indicate that the perception of women's appearance in different cultures not only reflects aesthetic preferences but is also deeply connected with the philosophical and ethical foundations of society.