Motivational Mechanisms and Semantic Structures of Polysemous Nominal Nouns in the Kazakh Language

Abstract

This study explores the polysemous nature of nominal nouns in the Kazakh language through an in-depth examination of their semantic structure and motivational mechanisms. By focusing on both primary and secondary meanings of lexemes, the research classifies polysemy into several distinct types — namely, derived, figurative, dialectal, and terminological — based on linguistic, ethnolinguistic, and cultural factors. While polysemy is a cross-linguistic phenomenon, its nationally specific characteristics and culturally embedded motivations in Kazakh offer a unique perspective for cognitive-semantic interpretation. The paper applies a combination of componential, etymological, and ethnolinguistic analyses to examine how lexical meanings evolve from core referents to metaphorical and context-dependent interpretations. Findings reveal that Kazakh polysemous nouns are shaped by formal, functional, material, spatial, and associative motivations. Furthermore, motivational chains exhibit varying levels of complexity: simple, parallel, sequential, and parallel-sequential models are observed across examples. The study provides a typology of semantic shifts, highlighting intricate relationships among lexical meanings from both diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Ultimately, the research demonstrates that polysemy in Kazakh is not merely a linguistic phenomenon but also a cognitive and cultural one, deeply embedded in the worldview and lived experience of its speakers. These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of semantic derivation and nomination theory within Turkic linguistics.