The Language of Colors: Symbolism of Hues in Kazakh Proverbs and Cross-Cultural Comparison
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1601.35Keywords:
language, culture, Kazakh proverbs, cultural metaphors, cross-cultural comparisonAbstract
This paper explores the symbolic and cultural meanings of color terms in Kazakh proverbs. It examines how colors such as white (ақ), black (қара), red (қызыл), yellow (сары), and blue (көк) function as cultural codes that convey moral values, aesthetic ideals, and philosophical concepts within Kazakh traditional thought. Proverbs that include color references reflect complex ideas about truth and justice, beauty, patience, and respect for the natural and spiritual world. The study is based on a qualitative linguo-cultural approach, using Kazakh paremiological dictionaries as primary sources and employing comparative analysis with Turkic and global proverb traditions. The paper also addresses the contemporary relevance of color-based proverbs in Kazakh media, public messaging, and educational discourse, showing how they retain pedagogical and communicative power. Ultimately, the paper emphasizes the role of color symbolism as a medium for transmitting cultural memory and shaping national identity across generations.
References
Al Sheikh, S. (1999). Sirat al Mustaqim and Hikma: A Qur’anic view of socioeconomic behavior, economic discourse and method. American Journal of Islam and Society, 16(2), 55–87. https://doi.org/10.35632/ajis.v16i2.2129
Aubakirov, T. (2007). Қазақ мақал-мәтелдерінің түсіндірме сөздігі [Explanatory dictionary of Kazakh proverbs and sayings]. Almaty: Sanat.
Bachrun, N., & Suhandano, S. (2023). Metaphorical conceptualization employed by animal lexicon "dog" in English and Indonesian proverbs: a comparative study. Journal of Social Research, 2(3), 892-900. https://doi.org/10.55324/josr.v2i3.741
Baxitovna, K. (2024). Linguistic and cultural features of proverbs that verbalize labor activity (using the example of English and Karakalpak languages). American Journal of Philological Sciences, 4(6), 46-49. https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/volume04issue06-1
Berlin, B., & Kay, P. (1969). Basic color terms: Their universality and evolution. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Britannica Editors. (n.d.). Chernozem. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved July 2025, from https://www.britannica.com/science/Chernozem-FAO-soil-group
Etymology Online. (n.d.). Chernozem: Origin and meaning. In Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved July 2025, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/chernozem
EWA Direct. (2024). A study of the early Chinese belief in “Heaven”. Communications in Humanities Research, 14(1), 100-105. Retrieved July 2025, from https://www.ewadirect.com/proceedings/chr/article/view/6474/
Fadhilah, N., Rais, W., & Purnanto, D. (2019). Madurese proverbs using color name element: an ethnolinguistic study. Humanus, 18(2), 224. https://doi.org/10.24036/humanus.v18i2.107167
Ibrayeva, Z., Bulatbayeva, K., & Vesselinov, D. (2022). Proverbs and sayings as a means of developing trilingualism in Kazakhstan's schools. Iasaýı Ýnıversıtetіnіń Habarshysy, 125(3), 256-267. https://doi.org/10.47526/2022-3/2664-0686.22
Keikin, Zh. (Ed.). (2014). Қазақ мақал-мәтелдерінің алтын кітабы [The golden book of Kazakh proverbs and sayings]. Almaty: Aruna.
Kim, G., Vaswani, R., Kang, W., Nam, M., & Lee, D. (2017). Enhancing ecoliteracy through traditional ecological knowledge in proverbs. Sustainability, 9(7), 1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9071182
Mukabenova, Z., Artaev, S., Gadanov, S., & Mandjiyev, А. (2024). The symbolism of red and blue colors as a reflection of the national mentality of Koreans (based on the material of Korean proverbs). Litera, (12), 159-171. https://doi.org/10.25136/2409-8698.2024.12.72527
New World Encyclopedia. (2025). Tengriism. Retrieved July 2025, from https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Tengriism
Nkomazana, F., & Tabalaka, A. (2024). Proverbs, community building and governance: a critical analysis of the proverbial saying, “kgosi ke kgosi ka batho” in Botswana. Scriptura, 123(1). https://doi.org/10.7833/123-1-2119
Nysanbayev, A. (2008). Kazakh moral philosophy and bi tradition. Almaty: Gylym.
Portal of Tyumen Culture. (2021). Красный цвет в русской традиции [Red color in Russian tradition]. Retrieved July 2025, from kultura-to.ru
Rajapova, G. (2024). The role of proverbs in the development of lexical competence: a comprehensive analysis. NUUz, 1(1.7), 168-170. https://doi.org/10.69617/nuuz.v1i1.7.3545
Suleimenov, E. (2013). Билер институты в истории Казахстана [The Bi institution in Kazakh history]. Astana: Elorda.
Temir, B. (2013). Türk atasözlerinde renk sembolizmi [Color symbolism in Turkish proverbs]. Ankara: Gazi Kitabevi.
Wikipedia. (2024, March). Red in culture. In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_in_culture
Wikipedia. (2025, June). Sirat al Mustaqim. Википедия. Retrieved July 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sirat_al%20Mustaqim
Wiki.Agenda. (2025). Heaven. Retrieved July 2025, from https://wiki.agency/Heaven.
Yede, F., Akanmu, D., & Mayadenu, A. (2025). A critical assessment of selected warning and advisory proverbs in Yoruba routine conversation. Yoruba Studies Review, 10(1), 93-109. https://doi.org/10.32473/ysr.10.1.139153
Yıldırım, A. (2007). İslam kültüründe beyaz rengin sembolik anlamları [The symbolic meanings of the color white in Islamic culture]. İlahiyat Fakültesi Dergisi, 48(2), 205–219.
Zheng, W. (2024). The red color in Russian, French and Chinese linguistic cultures on the example of phraseology and proverbs. Философия и Культура, (4), 75-85. https://doi.org/10.7256/2454-0757.2024.4.70532
