A Comparative Study of Kazakh and English Cosmonyms: Linguistic, Cultural, and Epistemological Insights

Authors

  • Мarita Snabekova

    Department of Professional Training of Foreign Languages, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Mereke Atabayeva

    Department of Theory and Methodology of the Kazakh Language, Kazakh National Women’s Teacher Training University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Aisulu Nurtaeva

    Department of Professional Training of Foreign Languages, Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Katira Balabekova

    Department of Kazakh Language Theory and Teaching Methods, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
  • Symbat Yessimkulova

    Department of Foreign Languages, Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
  • Kulpash Koptleuova

    School of Sciences and Arts, Baishev University, Aktobe 030000, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11198
Received: 22 July 2025 | Revised: 11 August 2025 | Accepted: 19 August 2025 | Published Online: 15 October 2025

Abstract

This article presents a comparative analysis of cosmonyms in the Kazakh and English languages, focusing on the linguistic, cultural, and cosmological frameworks that inform the naming of celestial bodies. Drawing from a wide range of linguistic and cultural sources, the study illustrates how celestial terms—such as the Crowning Stars—encode distinct cosmological worldviews, spiritual beliefs, and historical contexts. The analysis is structured around the formation processes of cosmonyms: in Kazakh, where compounding is a dominant mechanism, and in English, where naming practices are shaped by Latin and Greek etymology, scientific rationalism, and mythological heritage. While English celestial nomenclature has largely become standardized internationally, Kazakh cosmonyms reflect a dynamic interplay of traditional knowledge, Soviet linguistic influence, and contemporary efforts to revive and preserve cultural identity. The findings demonstrate both the universality of humanity's fascination with the cosmos and the uniqueness of local traditions in articulating that fascination. By examining the convergence of scientific and cultural perspectives, the study emphasizes how cosmonyms serve as bridges between rational knowledge and symbolic imagination. Through this comparison, the article highlights the critical importance of recognizing cultural diversity in celestial naming practices and advocates for inclusive, multilingual approaches to space exploration. This research contributes to the fields of linguistic anthropology and cosmology, offering deeper insights into how language and culture mediate humanity's conceptualization of space. It also lays a foundation for further interdisciplinary exploration at the intersection of language, mythology, and science.

Keywords:

Cosmonyms; Celestial Nomenclature; Linguistic Anthropology; Cultural Identity; Onomastics; Mythology

References

[1] Aveni, A., 2001. Book review: Skywatchers/ University of Texas Press, 2001). Archaeoastronomy.Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253442006_Book_Review_SKYWATCHERS_(cited 12 May 2025).

[2] Hale, K., Krauss, M., Watahomigie, L.J., et al., 1992. Endangered languages. Language. 68(1), 1–42.

[3] Komal, A., Naseer, H., Islam, S., 2025. Astro-poetics and Celestial Imagery in Celestial Bodies by Alharthi. Journal of Arts and Linguistics Studies. 3(2), 2353–2366.

[4] Parwoto, E.T., Dinurriyah, I.S., 2024. The Use of Celestial Bodies to Build Self-esteem in Your Soul is a River. Alphabet: A Biannual Academic Journal on Language, Literary, and Cultural Studies. 7(2), 98–105.

[5] Galiullina, G.R., Kuzmina, K.K., Kamalıeva, A.M., et al., 2020. Genetic layers of tatar cosmonyms. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language. 8(3), 19–27.

[6] Ruggles, C.L.N., 2005. Ancient astronomy: An encyclopedia of cosmologies and myth. Bloomsbury Publishing USA: Santa Barbara, CA, USA. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9798400612749

[7] Battiste, M.A., Henderson, J.Y., 2000. Protecting indigenous knowledge and heritage: A global challenge. Purich Publishing: Saskatoon, SK, Canada.

[8] Seidimbek, A., 1997. Kazakh world: An ethnocultural interpretation. Sanat: Almaty, Kazakhstan.

[9] Allen, R.H., 1899. Star names: Their lore and meaning. Dover Publications (Reprinted edition): Garden City, NY, USA.

[10] Aitchison, J., 2003. Words in the mind: An introduction to the mental lexicon, 3rd ed. Blackwell Publishing: Oxford, UK.

[11] Gómez, P.C., Vázquez, N., 2017. 7. Subject specific vocabulary in astronomy texts: A diachronic survey of the Corpus of English Texts on Astronomy. In: Astronomy ‘playne and simple’. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam, The Netherlands. pp. 123–154.

[12] Rubini, F., 2020. Terminology in space sciences. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences. 97, 1–649.

[13] Sapova, O., Stoikovich, L., 2015. English-speaking Astrological Discourse as a Part of Esoteric Discourse and its Nominations. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences. 6(6). Available from: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2840727 (cited 12 May 2025).

[14] Naurzbaeva, Z., Medeuova, K., 2021. Kazakh “space” toponymy: Study of the cultural landscape in the region adjacent to the Baikonur cosmodrome. Bulletin of Kazakh National Women's Teacher Training University. 87(3), 68–78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52512/2306-5079-2021-87-3-68-78

[15] Krupp, E.C., 1994. Echoes of the ancient skies: The astronomy of lost civilizations. Dover Publications: Garden City, NY, USA.

[16] Holeš, J., Honová, Z., 2024. Terminological metaphor in Czech and French terms from the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Linguistica Silesiana. 44(2), 109–120.

[17] Filippova, V., Filippova, S., 2021. Cultural codes: Representations about the sky and celestial bodies in Yakut riddles. Agathos. 12(2), 61–75.

[18] Pachankis, Y.I., 2022. Some Concepts of Space, Time, and Lengths in Simplified Chinese: An Analytical Linguistics Approach. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology. 7(6), 550–562.

[19] Crystal, D., 2008. A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics, 6th ed. Blackwell Publishing.

[20] Snabekova, M., 2021. The problem of the linguistic picture of the world in nominations of celestial bodies. Bulletin of Abai KazNPU. Series of Philological Sciences. 2(2), 269–274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.51889/2020-2.1728-7804.42

[21] Abishev, H., 2009. Secrets of the sky. Scientific library: Almaty, Kazakhstan. 264 p. Available from: http://elib.wku.edu.kz/en/lib/document/KNIGI/A1A52E30-10D4-420D-B4BE-E6F072FA1196/ (cited 12 May 2025).(in Kazakh)

[22] Renwick, A., 2021. Terminology, stars and (exo)planets. Academic Journal of Modern Philology. 13, 265–274. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34616/ajmp.2021.13

[23] Bender, H., 2020. Anglo-Saxon and Viking individual star names and traditions: The dim view looking through a window into the distant past. Journal of Archaeoastronomy. 18(2), 1–33.

[24] Theodosiou, E., Manimanis, V., Dimitrijevic, M., et al., 2011. Gaia, Helios, Selene and Ouranos: The three principal celestial bodies and the sky in ancient Greek cosmogony. Bulgarian Astronomical Journal. 16, 90–108.

[25] Mynzhan, N., 1994. Ancient history of the Kazakhs. Zhalyn: Almaty, Kazakhstan. (in Kazakh)

Downloads

How to Cite

Snabekova М., Atabayeva, M., Nurtaeva, A., Balabekova, K., Yessimkulova, S., & Koptleuova, K. (2025). A Comparative Study of Kazakh and English Cosmonyms: Linguistic, Cultural, and Epistemological Insights. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(10), 1224–1236. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i10.11198

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 10 (October 2025)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2025 Мarita Snabekova, Mereke Atabayeva, Aisulu Nurtaeva, Katira Balabekova, Symbat Yessimkulova, Kulpash Koptleuova

Creative Commons License

This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.