Publication Details
Abstract
This article examines archaic words in T. Qayıpbergenov’s novel The Karakalpak Epic, focusing on their historical origins, semantic features, and functions in the literary text. The study is based on the three books of the trilogy and applies continuous sampling together with etymological, comparative-historical, descriptive-semantic, and contextual analysis. Particular attention is paid to Persian loanwords and to lexical items borrowed from Russian and from European languages through Russian. Words related to religious concepts, military affairs, state administration, trade, and everyday life are analysed, including iyshan, qálender, qorjın, nayza, pashshap, patsha, sawıt, zindan, kámar, knyaz, and kópes. Sixteen archaic lexical items are classified by source language and thematic group: eleven are of Persian origin and five entered through Russian. Examples from the novel illustrate how these items contribute to the reconstruction of the historical setting, the portrayal of characters, and the representation of the social and cultural realities of the period. The findings highlight the significance of archaic vocabulary for understanding the historical development of the Karakalpak language, its lexical structure, and its cultural and linguistic interactions with other peoples.