Ethnolinguistic and cultural aspects of the medieval Turkic worldview based on the Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk (Compendium)

Abstract

This article explores the worldview of the medieval Turkic peoples from an ethnolinguistic and cultural perspective, based on Mahmud al-Kashgari's historical-lexicographical work Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk. The present study examines the conceptual foundations of the ancient Turkic worldview, traditions, belief systems, and social structure as reflected in linguistic data. The spiritual heritage and cultural code of the Turkic people is identified through semantic and cultural analysis of lexical units and paremiological forms (proverbs and sayings). Employing methodologies drawn from the disciplines of ethnolinguistics and cognitive linguistics, the research proffers a scholarly interpretation of the mentality and worldview structure of medieval Turkic society as revealed through language. The objective of the present study is twofold: firstly, to contribute to the understanding of Turkic culture through language, and secondly, to define the national conceptual sphere.

Based on the linguistic data from the Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk, this study explores the ethnolinguistic and cultural dimensions of the medieval Turkic worldview, with a particular focus on the conceptualization of space and religious continuity. The analysis reveals that early Turkic spatial orientation – both vertical and horizontal – was deeply rooted in ancient traditions, adaptation to the natural environment, and nomadic animal husbandry, as vividly demonstrated by Mahmud al-Kashgari’s pioneering circular map. Furthermore, this cartographic and onomastic heritage reflects a sophisticated "linguistic model of the world" that underscores the spatial consciousness of Turkic tribes. Alongside these geographical insights, the paper examines the spiritual universe of the medieval Turks, highlighting a harmonious synthesis where foundational Tengriist beliefs seamlessly converged with Islamic principles. Ultimately, the Dīwān serves as a crucial bridge of spiritual continuity, offering invaluable insights into the historical development of Turkic cultural identity and ethnolinguistic heritage.