COMPARATIVE LINGUISTIC AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS OF HUMOROUS DISCOURSE (based on Kazakh and English materials)

A comparative study of humor in a linguocultural aspect among various ethnic groups aims to identify and analyze the spiritually significant values of Kazakh and English cultures, as well as to examine the mechanisms of their transformation. Cultural values are reflected in humorous texts, which are closely intertwined with the daily life and traditions of each nation, manifesting in diverse ways. In this regard, analyzing humor in Kazakh and English from the perspective of its semiotic nature, encompassing pragmatic, syntactic, and syntagmatic levels, is both relevant and significant. In the study, the pragmatic aspect is considered through the lens of normative-evaluative and situational-logical discrepancies, the syntactic aspect is examined in the context of genre transformations of comic elements, while the syntagmatic aspect is interpreted as the interaction between the comic effect and its semiotic form. The purpose of the study is to identify cultural and linguistic differences in the mechanisms of construction of Kazakh and English humorous discourse. It also aims to describe the structural characteristics that determine the interpretation of communication links (pragmatic, syntactic and syntagmatic). Achieving this goal requires solving the following tasks: analyzing the structure of humorous communication, examining pragmatic realizations, syntactic incongruities, and syntagmatic features to determine their specificity. The study employs linguistic, linguocultural, and pragmalinguistic methods of analysis. The research material consists of Kazakh humorous expressions and English jokes, selected from well-known literary, cultural, and online sources. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that the linguistic structure of humorous discourse, which has not previously been the subject of a comprehensive study in Kazakh linguistics, is presented in a comparative perspective based on Kazakh and English language materials. The results of the study contribute to the development of discourse theory within the framework of linguocultural studies. The practical significance of the research lies in the possibility of applying its findings in higher education courses on general linguistics, speech culture, pragmatics, and text linguistics, as well as in expanding scientific knowledge about the pragmatics of humor and speech acts.

1. Amiraqynova, G.A. (2016) Qazaq azilderining jetnomadeni erekshelikteri. QR Ulttyq gylym akademijasy. Aleumettikgumanitarlyq gylymdar serijasy. Tom 2. No.306. B. 208-217. [Amirakynova, G.A. (2016) Ethnocultural Characteristics of Kazakh Jokes. Series of Social and Humanitarian Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Vol. 2. No.306. P. 208-217.] (in Kazakh)

2. Arakin, V.D. (2005) Prakticheskij kurs anglijskogo jazyka. Ucheb. dlja studentov vuzov. Moskva: Gumanitar. izd. Sentr VLADOS. 516 s. [Arakin, V.D. (2005) A Practical Course of the English Language: Textbook for University Students. Moscow: Humanities Publishing Center VLADOS. 516 p.] (in Russian)

3. Baranov, A.G. (1997) Kogniotipichnost` teksta. K probleme urovnej abstrakcii tekstovoj dejatel`nosti. Zhanry rechi. Saratov: Koledzh. S. 4-12. [Baranov, A.G. (1997) The cogniotypicity of the text. On the problem of levels of abstraction of text. P. 4-12.] (in Russian)

4. Bilim al. Internet resources. https://bilim-all.kz/quote/joke?page=4 (Qaralgan kuni: 01.04.2025). (in Kazakh)

5. Degen eken (1993) Qurastyrushy Nijazbekov, M. Almaty: Oner baspasy. Besinshi kitapsha. [It is said that... Author: Niyazbekov, M. Almaty: Oner. Fifth booklet.] (in Kazakh)

6. Egemen Qazaqstan (2020). https://egemen.kz/article/254633-tolyq-adam-taghylymy (Qaralgan kuni: 01.04.2025). (in Kazakh)

7. Esenova, Q., Sejitova, B. (2023) XV-XVIII gasyrlardagy zhyraular pojezijasynyng pragmastilistikalyq erekshelikteri. TILTANYM. No.4(92). [Yessenova, Q., Seitova, B. (2023) Pragmastylistic Features of Poetic Works by Kazakh Zhyraus of the 15th-18th Centuries. TILTANYM. No.4(92)]. doi.org/10.55491/2411-6076-2023-4-28-36 (in Kazakh)

8. İbraeva, G. (2010) Syqaq zhanrynda qoldanylatyn tildik amal-tasilder: filol. gylym. kand. ... avtoref. Astana. 25 b. [Ibrayeva, G. (2010) Linguistic Devices Used in the Satirical Genre: Author's Abstract of the Candidate of Philological Sciences Dissertation. Astana. 25 p.] (in Kazakh)

9. International Jokes. http://the-ultimate-international-jokes.blogspot.com/2008/02/englishman-frenchman-andwelshman.html (Qaralgan kuni 01.04.2025)

10. Internet resources https://tululu.org/read-66574/?page=10 (Qaralgan kuni 01.04.2025). (in English)

11. Internet resources. https://files.isu.ru/filearchive/edu_files/B1.O.05Inostrannyjjazyk__2908.pdf (Qaralgan kuni: 01.04.2025). (in English)

12. Kurganov, E. (1997) Anekdot kak zhanr. SPb.: Akademicheskij projekt. 123 s. [Kurganov, E. (1997) Anecdote as a genre. St. Petersburg: Academic project. 123 p.] (in Russian)

13. Kuznecova, T.F., Lukov, B.A. (2009) Kul`turnaja kartina mira v svete tendencij razvitija kul`turologii. Vestnik Mezhdunarodnoj akademii nauk. No.1. Rejim dostupa: https://readera.org/kulturnaja-kartina-mira-v-svete-tendencij-razvitijakulturologii-14315173 (data obrashhenija: 18.11.2024). [Kuznetsova, T.F., Lukov, B.A. (2009) The cultural picture of the world in the light of trends in the development of cultural studies. Bulletin of the International Academy of Sciences. No.1.] (in Russian)

14. Maulenova, B.M. (2006) Qazaq satirasynyng tili (lingvistikalyq sipattama): filol. gylym. kand. ... avtoref. Astana. 23 b. [Maulenova, B.M. (2006) The language of Kazakh satire (linguistic description): Philol. Science. Kand. ... abstract. Astana. 23 p.] (in Kazakh)

15. Musijchuk, M.V. (2015) Komunikativnyj mehanizm jumora kak sredstvo jeffektivnogo vozdejstvija politicheskogo lidera. Mir nauki. No.3. [Musiychuk, M.V. (2015) The communicative mechanism of humor as a means of effective influence of a political leader. Mir nauki. No.3.] (in Russian)

16. Musaev, A.M. (2001) Zhandy zhuje. Oqu quraly. Almaty: Bilim. 277 b. [Musayev, A.M. (2001) Living system. Training manual. Almaty: Bilim. 277 p.] (in Kazakh)

17. Musauly, A. (2023) Satira sanglagy. Halyqaralyq gylymi konferencija materialdary. 24.11.2023. [Musauly, A. (2023) The Poet of satire. Materials of the international scientific conference. 24.11.2023.] https://wkitu.kz/wpcontent/uploads/2024/02/konf-so-y-var-24.1123.pdf. (in Kazakh)

18. Nikolina, N.N. (2017) Rol fonovyh znhanij v uslovija mezhkul`turnoj komunikacii. Lingvokulturologija. No.11. [Nikolina, N.N. (2017) The role of background knowledge in the context of intercultural communication. Linguoculturology. No.11.] (in Russian)

19. Ongalbek, K. (2007) Qozhanasyr hikajalary. Astana: Audarma baspasy. 456 b. [Onalbek, K. (2007) Khozha Nasreddin Stories. Astana: “Audarma” Publishing House. 456 p.] (in Kazakh)

20. Proverbial Advice on Keeping Healthy https://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php%3Fdate=2008%252F10%252F02.html. (in English)

21. Qozhekeev, T. (1976) Satira zhane dauir. Monografija. Almaty: Zhazushy. 204 b. [Kozhekeyev, T. (1976) Satire and the Era. Monograph. Almaty: Zhazushy Publishing House. 204 p.] (in Kazakh)

22. Raskin, V. (1998) The Sense of Humor and the Truth The Sense of Humor; Explorations of a Personality Characteristic. Berlin, N. Y.: Mouton de Gruyter. P. 95. (in English)

23. Reddit. An English-language forum and social platform. https://www.reddit.com/r/dadjokes/comments/9decmz/what_do_you_call_a_fish_with_3_eyes (Qaralgan kuni: 01.04.2025). (in English)

24. Reddit. An English-language forum and social platform. https://jokes-riddles.entmt.narkive.com/Yk2v33RG/okay-letsjust-say-you-were-the-bus-driver (Qaralgan kuni: 18.09.2025). (in English)

25. Salihova, A.Z. (2011) Qazaq tilindegi komika tudyrudyng tildik tabigaty: filol. gyl. kand. … dis. Almaty. 112 b. [Salikhova, A.Z. (2011) Linguistic nature of the creation of comics in the Kazakh language: Philol. Science. Kand. … dis. Almaty. 112 p.] (in Kazakh)

26. Smagulova, G.N., Amirhanova, G.А. (2016) Tematicheskie osobennosti kazahskogo jumora. Vestnik KazNU. Serija filologicheskaja, 159(1). [Smagulova, G.N., Amirkhanova, G.A. (2016) Thematic features of Kazakh jokes. Bulletin of KazNU, Philology series. No. 1(159). P. 234-239]. https://philart.kaznu.kz/index.php/1-FIL/article/view/1866 (in Kazakh)

27. Smahanuly, Sh. (2005) Anshi atesh: shymshymalar, syqaqtar, mysaldar. Almaty: Zhazushy. 199 b. [Smakhanuly, Sh. (2005) Singing Rooster: pinches, jerks, examples. Almaty: Zhazushy. 199 p.] (in Kazakh)

28. Stepanov, Yu.S. (2020) Osnovy obshhego jazykoznanija. Moskva: Lenand. 272 s. [Stepanov, Yu.S. (2020) Fundamentals of general linguistics. Moscow: Lenand Publ. 272 p.] (in Russian)

29. Tileuzhanov, M. (1978) Astarly azil. Almaty: Zhazushy. 116 b. [Tleuzhanov, M. (1978) The underlying joke. Almaty: Zhazushy. 116 p.] (in Kazakh)

30. Vereshhagin, E.M., Kostomarov V.G. (2005) Jazyk i kul`tura. Moskva: İndrik. 104 s. [Vereshagin, E.M., Kostomarov, V.G. (2005) Language and culture. Moscow: İndrik. 104 p.] (in Russian)

31. Zheltuhina, M.R. (2000) Komicheskoe v politicheskom diskurse konca XX veka. Monografija. İn-t jazykoznanija RAN. Moskva¬Volgograd: İzd-vo VF MUPK. 264 s. [Zheltukhina, M.R. (2000) The Comic in Political Discourse of the Late 20th Century. Monograph. Institute of Linguistics, Russian Academy of Sciences. Moscow-Volgograd: Publishing House of the Volgograd Branch of the Moscow University for the Humanities. 264 p.] (in Russian)