Linguostylistic Features of Representing the Concept of ‘Hunger’ in Selected Kazakh Prose of the 1930s

Abstract

Contemporary linguistics shows a growing interest in studying language as a polysystem, with particular attention to the interrelation of language, thought, and the cultural worldview. Within this framework, the analysis of literary concepts that represent collective traumatic experiences becomes particularly relevant. This research aims to identify and describe the distinctive linguostylistic features used to represent the concept of “hunger” (golod) in the Russian-language segment of Kazakh prose of the 1930s. The study is based on an integrative approach combining methods of corpus linguistics (frequency, concordance, and collocational analysis employing statistical metrics such as t-score and Mutual Information), cognitive-discursive analysis for reconstructing mental models. A specialised text corpus of works by the key authors of the period (S. Mukanov, B. Mailin, G. Musrepov) was compiled. The findings reveal that the concept of “hunger” (golod) is represented through a stable set of linguostylistic devices. The lexical core of the semantic field is formed by the nominatives “bread” (khleb) (13.6 per 10,000 words), “hunger” (golod) (12.3), “death” (smert’) (9.3), and “to eat” (est’) (10.4), which actualise the biological, social, and symbolic dimensions of the tragedy. Collocational analysis confirmed stable associations with adjectives such as “frosty” (moroznyĭ) (MI = 8.7). Distinct authorial strategies were identified: an emphasis on social evil (Mukanov), natural force (Mailin), and redemption (Musrepov). The results confirm the hypothesis that linguostylistic devices constitute the principal mechanism for constructing literary meaning and emotional impact, reflecting the collective experience of dehumanisation and the loss of traditional ways of being.