Sociolinguistic Features of Kazakh and English Business Terminology

Authors

  • Manshuk Mambetova

    Turkology and Theory of Language Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Guldana Nessipbay

    Turkology and Theory of Language Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Nursaule Rsalieva

    Turkology and Theory of Language Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Aksaule Kaibuldaeva

    Turkology and Theory of Language Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan
  • Marina Zhambylkyzy

    Turkology and Theory of Language Department, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050000, Kazakhstan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v8i2.12294
Received: 30 September 2025 | Revised: 20 October 2025 | Accepted: 22 October 2025 | Published Online: 27 February 2026

Abstract

The rapid economic growth and ongoing digital transformation of Kazakhstan have had a profound influence on the terminological layer of the Kazakh language. The introduction of new technologies and the expansion of globalized business practices have necessitated the continuous renewal of the national lexical system. Business terminology, in particular, constitutes one of the most dynamic domains, with new concepts and terms emerging on a daily basis. This article aims to examine the sociolinguistic characteristics of Kazakh and English business terminology, with particular attention to the social, political, and economic factors that shape their formation and usage. The study is based on the comparative analysis of 1500 terminological units, examining their classification, structural patterns, and mechanisms of term formation in both languages. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of English borrowings on the Kazakh business lexicon, as well as on the sociocultural dimensions embedded within business discourse. The research employs descriptive-analytical and comparative-contrastive methods, alongside systematization and classification approaches. The linguistic data were drawn from texts found on social media platforms, official websites, media sources, and business publications. The current sociolinguistic status of the Kazakh language is examined through external observation methods. The study confirms that international business terms borrowed from English significantly contribute to the functional expansion of the Kazakh language. While traditional principles of term formation tend to limit emotional expressiveness, the findings reveal an increasing presence of metaphorical expressions and semantic coloration in modern business terms. The dominant role of English in shaping contemporary Kazakh business vocabulary is also highlighted.

Keywords:

Term; Business Terminology; Sociolinguistics; Kazakh Language; English Language; International Terms

References

[1] Akhmanova, O.S., 2004. Dictionary of Linguistic Terms. URSS/Editorial URSS: Moscow, Russia. p. 570. Available from: https://nlr.ru/res/inv/guideseria/yazyk/record_full.php?record_ID=16699&rid=5992&utm_source=chatgpt.com (in Russian)

[2] Reformatsky, A.A., 1959. What is a term and terminology. Questions of Terminology. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Institute of Linguistics: Moscow, Russia. p. 358. Available from: https://rusneb.ru/catalog/000199_000009_008345259/?utm_source=chatgpt.com (in Russian)

[3] Aitbayuly, O., 2014. Basics of Kazakh Terminology. Abzal-Ay Publishing House: Almaty, Kazakhstan. (in Kazakh)

[4] Superanskaya, A.V., 2003. General Terminology. Editorial URSS: Moscow, Russia. p. 248. (in Russian)

[5] Kurmanbayuly, S., 2004. Scientific Principles of Development of Kazakh Terminology. Dictionary Publishing: Almaty, Kazakhstan. p. 308. (in Kazakh)

[6] Karmazina, L., 2025. Sociolinguistic analysis of the use of IT terminology in informal online communications in Ukrainian. Scientific Journal of Polonia University. 68(1), 50–55.

[7] Vinnikova, T.A., Churilova, I.N., 2023. Sociolinguistic approach to the study of terminology. Modern Problems of Science, Society and Culture. 168. Available from: https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=ru&as

[8] Melko, K.B., 2025. Sociolinguistic functions of scientific and technical terminology in English documentary film discourse. Lviv Philological Journal (Львівський філологічний часопис). (17), 70–75.

[9] Bakhodirovna, A.G., 2021. Sociolinguistic features of translation in different context. Academicia: An International Multidisciplinary Research Journal. 11(3), 350–354.

[10] Silaški, N., Kilyeni, A., 2014. The MONEY IS SOLID metaphor in economic and business terminology in English. Professional Communication and Translation Studies. 7(1–2), 73–80.

[11] Bargiela-Chiappini, F., Nickerson, C., Planken, B., 2007. Business Discourse. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke, UK.

[12] Buyanova, L., 2011. Terminological Derivation in the Language of Science: Cognitiveness, Semiotics, Functionality. Flinta: Moscow, Russia.

[13] Burkitbaeva, G.G., 2005. Business Discourse: Ontology and Genres. Gylym: Almaty, Kazakhstan. p. 210.

[14] Amanzholova, A.A., 2014. Sociocognitive and Communicative-Pragmatic Features of Business Correspondence (Based on the Kazakh, Russian and English Languages) [PhD thesis]. Eurasian University: Astana, Kazakhstan. p. 155.

[15] Herțeg, M.C., 2024. The importance of business terminology in specialised translations. Terminologija. (31), 168–201.

[16] Zhu, Y., 2008. Written Communication Across Cultures: A Sociocognitive Perspective on Business Genres. John Benjamins Publishing: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

[17] Aimoldina, A., 2020. Models for discourse analysis of business correspondence: Kazakhstani context. European Proceedings of Social and Behavioural Sciences. 86, 25–36.

[18] Akshalova, B.N., 1998. Lexico-Grammatical Nature of Macroeconomic Terms [PhD thesis]. Al-Farabi Iniversity: Almaty, Kazakhstan. p. 156. (in Kazakh)

[19] Lityagina, E., 2019. The need to study the sociocultural aspect in the process of comparative language for specific purposes learning on the example of English and Spanish business terminology. Revista Espacios. 40(8), 5.

[20] Bayekeyeva, A.T., Tazhibayeva, S.Z., Shaheen, A.A., et al., 2022. Developing an online Kazakh-English-Russian thesaurus of industry-specific terminology. International Journal of Society, Culture & Language. 10(1), 83–98.

[21] Fedulenkova, T.N., 2020. Common structural patterns of business terminology in modern English (according to D. Parkinson's dictionary). Bulletin of Cherepovets State University. 3(96), 114–125. (in Russian)

[22] Bazarbayeva, Z., Ospangaziyeva, N., Zhalalova, A., et al., 2024. Syllable theory and diachronic phonology: Vocalism and consonantism in Turkic languages. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics. 10(1), 50–59.

[23] Koptleuova, K., Khairzhanova, A., Akkuzov, A., et al., 2023. The language situation in the healthcare sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics. 9(2), 118–131.

[24] Koptleuova, K., Karagulova, B., Muratbek, B., et al., 2022. Sociolinguistic and extralinguistic aspects of the functioning of the trilingualism in the oil industry of Kazakhstan. Psycholinguistics. 31(2), 57–77.

[25] Rogerson-Revell, P., 2010. “Can you spell that for us nonnative speakers?”: Accommodation strategies in international business meetings. Journal of Business Communication. 47(4), 432–454. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0021943610377304

Downloads

How to Cite

Mambetova, M., Nessipbay, G., Rsalieva, N., Kaibuldaeva, A., & Zhambylkyzy, M. (2026). Sociolinguistic Features of Kazakh and English Business Terminology. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 8(2), 38–50. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v8i2.12294

Issue

Vol. 8, Iss. 2 (February 2026 in progress)

Article Type

Article

License

Copyright © 2026 Manshuk Mambetova, Guldana Nessipbay, Nursaule Rsalieva, Aksaule Kaibuldaeva, Marina Zhambylkyzy

Creative Commons License

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