Defense of the dissertation of Dautbayeva Kuralay for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the specialty «8D02310 - Foreign Philology»

L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Dautbayeva Kuralay on the topic «Linguocultural Features of the Concept of Evaluation in Linguistic and Discursive Representation (based on the material of the Kazakh and English languages)» to the educational program «8D02310 – Foreign Philology».

The dissertation was carried out at the «Foreign Philology education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

The language of defense is kazakh

Official reviewers:

Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:

Scientific advisors:

Duisekova Kuliash Kerimbekovna

Svetlana Dimitrova Atanasova-Divitakova

The defense will take place on June 20, 2026, at 10:00 AM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D023 – Languages and literature» in the specialty «8D02310 – Foreign Philology» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held online.

Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87332541263?pwd=6n4g0wqLXufk7091JY138iv2xFkdGv.1

Address: Астана қ., Қ. Сәтбаев көшесі, 2, Бас ғимарат, Мәжіліс залы, № 302 ауд.

Abstract (English): Relevance of the Research Topic. The concept of evaluation represents a complex cognitive structure that is fixed in human consciousness through language. A comparative study of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages makes it possible to identify the peculiarities of world cognition models as well as the emotional and value orientations characteristic of each language. The scientific investigation of these features provides opportunities for a deeper understanding of the linguistic worldview of each nation. In the context of modern globalization and the intensification of intercultural contacts, discrepancies between cultural codes embedded in linguistic units may lead to misunderstanding of evaluative meanings and, consequently, to communicative failures. Therefore, a systematic comparative study of the linguistic and discursive representation of the linguocultural features of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages is of great importance for the development of effective intercultural communication. From the perspective of cognitive linguistics, evaluation is regarded as a universal category; however, the ways of its linguistic and discursive representation differ across languages. The relevance of the present study lies in identifying the linguistic and discursive nature of the concept of evaluation, revealing its national and cultural specificity, and providing a comparative description of the patterns of evaluation realization in the Kazakh and English languages. The significance of the research is also determined by the necessity of a comparative investigation into the linguistic and discursive representation of the linguocultural features of the concept of evaluation within the linguistic worldview of genetically and structurally unrelated languages. Object of the research: the concept of evaluation in Kazakh and English. Subject of the research: linguocultural features of the linguistic and discursive representation of the concept of evaluation in Kazakh and English. Purpose of the Research. A comprehensive comparative study of the ways the concept of evaluation is represented by linguistic means in the Kazakh and English languages, its realization in advertising discourse, and its cultural conditioning with the aim of identifying the linguocultural features of the conceptual worldview of evaluation. To achieve this purpose, the following objectives were set: 1. To select and analyze scholarly works on cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, discourse theory, and pragmatics in order to determine the theoretical foundations for studying the linguocultural features of the linguistic and discursive representation of the concept of evaluation based on the Kazakh and English languages. 2. To determine the conceptual structure and content of the concept of evaluation (its nuclear and peripheral features, frame, scenario, and metaphorical organization) on the basis of materials from the Kazakh and English languages. 3. To analyze the patterns of realization of the linguocultural nature of the concept of evaluation in advertising discourse using statistical research methods. 4. To investigate, from a comparative perspective, the pragmatic function of the concept of evaluation and evaluative strategies, as well as to provide their theoretical justification. 5. To identify the universal and national-cultural features of the linguistic and discursive representation of the linguocultural characteristics of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages. Research Materials: The sources of the research included explanatory, phraseological, and etymological dictionaries, as well as corpus data and authentic advertising texts. Evaluative linguistic units of the Kazakh language were selected from the national corpus Qazcorpora / Qazcorpus. The following subcorpora were used for the selection of evaluative units: the culturally representative subcorpus, included in the main corpus and reflecting the cultural and cognitive worldview of the people; the subcorpus of proverbs and sayings, used to identify stable evaluative expressions; the phraseological subcorpus, employed for collecting idiomatic evaluative units; and the advertising texts subcorpus, used for selecting evaluative units of advertising discourse. Evaluative linguistic units of the English language were selected from the British National Corpus (hereinafter BNC). For the selection of evaluative vocabulary from stories, novels, and literary works, the Imaginative category was used, while the Spoken section served as the basis for selecting evaluative units of conversational character from informal conversations and radio programs. Materials of English advertising discourse were additionally collected from authentic sources, including transcripts of commercials published on the official YouTube channels and websites of global brands such as Nike, Old Spice, Kleenex, and others. The materials were collected using lemma-based search functions, part-of-speech (POS) filters, collocational analysis, and context search (KWIC). The criteria for selection included text authenticity and a high density of evaluative vocabulary. The overall empirical database of the study consisted of 2,000 examples obtained through corpus sampling methods (1,000 examples in Kazakh and 1,000 examples in English). Research Methods: In accordance with the aims and objectives of the study, general scientific methods of analysis, synthesis, description, and comparative research widely applied in the humanities were employed. Alongside these, an integrative approach involving comprehensive methods commonly used in modern linguistics was applied. In particular, linguistic methods of analysis (structural-semantic, contextual, and corpus analysis), communicative-pragmatic methods (analysis of communicative situations, speech acts, and pragmatic strategies), as well as cognitive-conceptual methods (frame analysis, metaphor analysis, and componential analysis) were utilized. These methods made it possible to comprehensively identify the linguistic, linguocultural, and discursive features of the concept of evaluation under investigation. Since the concept of evaluation belongs to the category of axiological concepts, linguocultural methods of analysis were supplemented by linguocognitive approaches that allow for a deeper understanding of the relationship between the linguistic worldview and the system of values. In addition, statistical analysis was employed in order to examine the frequency, distribution, and degree of intensity of evaluative linguistic units in the Kazakh and English languages. From the empirical material collected through corpus sampling, 1,000 units (500 from Kazakh and 500 from English) were coded in accordance with the gradation scale proposed by A. Zhumakhanova and A. Bizhkenova. Advertising texts were also used as an additional empirical material for the study. During the research, empirical material consisting of 607 tokens for each of the two languages was examined, and 72 advertising texts with a total volume of 1214 tokens were analyzed using the Relative Frequency indicator (hereinafter RF). Theoretical and Methodological Framework. The theoretical and methodological foundation of the dissertation research was based on the works of scholars in the field of axiological linguistics — J.R. Martin, P.White, N.D. Arutyunova, E.M. Volf, Y.D. Apresyan, A.A. Ivin, R. Syzdyk, Zh. Mankeeva; in the field of cognitive linguistics — Ch.J. Fillmore, G. Lakoff, M. Johnson, R. Langacker, L. Wittgenstein, E.S. Kubryakova, Y.S. Stepanov, I.V. Zykova, Z.D. Popova, I.A. Sternin, V.Yu. Babushkin, G.G. Slyshkin, M.V. Pimenova, S.E. Isabekov, G.G. Gizdatov, K.K. Duisekova, Sh.K. Zharkynbekova, A.E. Bizhkenova, A. Islam, Zh.K. Sabitova; in the field of pragmalinguistics — J. L. Austin, J. Searle, H. P. Grice, D. Mangeno, B. K. Momynova, Z. K. Temirgazina; in the field of linguocultural studies — V.N. Telia, A. Wierzbicka, K. O. Yessenova, A. T. Bakytov, G. A. Tusipbekova; as well as in the field of discourse theory — T.A. van Dijk, V.V. Krasnykh, R. Barthes, Y.N. Karaulov, V.I. Karasik, B. A. Akhatova, and G. I. Isina. Scientific Novelty. Although in recent years numerous studies devoted to the problem of evaluation have been actively conducted within the frameworks of cognitive linguistics and linguoculturology, the linguistic and discursive representation of the concept of evaluation, especially from a comparative perspective based on the Kazakh and English languages and viewed through a linguocultural approach, has not yet received comprehensive and systematic consideration. The study systematizes the functions of evaluation in the formation of the linguistic worldview, its connection with national and cultural values, as well as the cultural motivation of evaluative meanings. The scientific novelty of the research lies in its integrative approach to the study of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages, based on the combination of linguocultural and conceptual methods with statistical analysis. The research comparatively analyzes the linguocultural features of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages, separately characterizes the linguocognitive and conceptual structures of evaluation in each language, and identifies the conceptual systems and model-specific features of evaluative concepts in both English and Kazakh. As a result, universal ways of representing the concept of evaluation in unrelated languages, as well as idioethnic features determined by cultural and mental factors, were identified; their linguistic markers and dominant characteristics were convincingly demonstrated. For the first time, the functioning and use of the concept of evaluation in advertising discourse were analyzed from a linguocultural perspective in combination with the results of comparative frequency analysis. In particular, the relationship between evaluative linguistic units and persuasive strategies in advertising texts, the dependence of evaluative interpretation on the cultural experience of the addressee, and the differences in the perception of evaluative content in Kazakh and English linguocultures were empirically proven. The empirical basis of the study consisted of materials from the Qazcorpora corpus, as well as transcripts of advertising texts from global brands (Nike, Old Spice, Kleenex, etc.) published on their official YouTube channels and websites. In the study, the concept of evaluation was comprehensively described for the first time through the integration of the “Appraisal Theory” model proposed by J. Martin and P. R. White with the ядро–периферия (core–periphery) model, which made it possible to reveal its linguocultural, cognitive, and communicative-pragmatic aspects. Theoretical Significance of the Dissertation: The results and conclusions of the comparative study of the linguocultural features of the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages, as well as their structural and semantic differences, contribute to clarifying the scientific and theoretical foundations of cognitive linguistics, discourse theory, linguoculturology, and pragmalinguistic studies. Moreover, the comparative characterization of the evaluative systems of two unrelated languages contributes to the development of comparative linguistics theory and enriches theoretical approaches aimed at identifying the universal and idioethnic features of the concept of evaluation. Practical Significance of the Dissertation. The results of the study may be used in teaching such disciplines as “Cognitive Linguistics,” “Linguoculturology,” “Comparative Linguistics,” and “Cognitive Phraseology” in higher educational institutions. In addition, the linguistic material collected during the research may serve as an additional source for the development of textbooks, specialized courses, and practical seminars. The results of the comparative analysis of the category of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages may also provide a scientific basis for lexicographic research, particularly for the enrichment of explanatory and phraseological dictionaries. Main Conclusions Submitted for Defense: 1. Since the concept of evaluation represents a multilayered and complex structure realized at the semantic, cognitive, and pragmatic levels of language, the theoretical foundation of the research is based on contemporary approaches in cognitive linguistics, pragmalinguistics, linguoculturology, and discourse theory. Reliance on this theoretical framework and the integrative application of lexical-semantic, cognitive, discursive, and linguocultural methods in combination with statistical analysis made it possible to comprehensively reveal the multifaceted nature of evaluation. 2. The concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages, as a conceptual structure, consists of nuclear and peripheral features and is organized through frames, scenarios, and conceptual metaphors. The core of evaluation is formed by universal axiological categories (good/bad, useful/harmful), while the near periphery includes markers expressing the degree of evaluative intensity, and the distant periphery consists of metaphorical, implicit, and contextual linguistic units possessing national and cultural specificity. In both languages, the conceptual system of evaluation is realized through binary oppositions reflecting the cultural code of the national worldview. 3. The discursive representation of the concept of evaluation, especially in advertising discourse, is realized through evaluative linguistic units (adjectives, adverbs, metaphors, intensifiers) and pragmatic strategies that perform the function of influencing the consumer, shaping their emotional state and evaluative orientation. Since the discursive realization of evaluation is conditioned by linguistic and cultural features, the frequency of evaluative units and pragmatic strategies manifests differently in each language. 4. The pragmatic function of evaluative units in the Kazakh and English languages lies not only in expressing the speaker’s intention, emotional attitude, and communicative purpose, but also in influencing the addressee through persuasive, expressive, and evaluative strategies. The choice of evaluative strategy is determined by the communicative intention of the speaker and is realized through direct and indirect (implicit) evaluation depending on the degree of influence on the addressee. 5. The concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages represents a unity of universal and idioethnic characteristics: on the one hand, evaluation is based on universal cognitive and axiological categories; on the other hand, it is manifested through national and cultural features determined by the ethnolinguistic worldview, culture, and value system of each language. The differences between the evaluative systems of the Kazakh and English languages are determined by their cultural-historical development and social values. In the Kazakh language, evaluation is predominantly based on collective values and social norms, whereas in the English language, individualism, personal responsibility, and pragmatic efficiency prevail. The scientific hypothesis of the study is that if the concept of evaluation in the Kazakh and English languages has a universal cognitive basis, then its linguistic and discursive representation, along with being manifested through common axiological means, is realized differently depending on the peculiarities of the national and cultural worldview, since the culture and value system of each language determine differences in evaluative pragmatic strategies, linguistic units, the frequency of their use, and the degree of their intensity. Publication and Approbation of Research Results. The main results of the dissertation are reflected in 6 publications. The research findings have been published in scholarly articles indexed in the Scopus international scientific database. 1. Plurilingual Practices and Sociolinguistic Reconfigurations Through Advertising Posters in Algiers // XLinguae. – 2025. – Vol. 18, Iss. 1. – P. 112-132. Percentile 77%, Q1. Рublications recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan: 1. Evaluation words in advertising texts in Kazakh and English languages // Bulletin of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Philology Series. – 2022. – No. 2(186). – P. 33–40. 2. Representation of the concept Evaluation in the paremiology of the Kazakh and English languages // Bulletin of L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. Philology Series. – 2022. – No. 2(139). – P. 76–88. 3. National-cultural character of evaluative meaning language structures in Kazakh and English // Bulletin of Toraighyrov University. Philology Series. – 2023. – No. 3(207). – P. 50–63. The research findings were presented at international scientific conferences: 1. Representation of moral and ethical values in Kazakh and English proverbs // Turkic Linguoculturology: Problems and Prospects, Proceedings of the XII International Scientific and Practical Conference of school pupils, students, and doctoral candidates, Kazan, February 19, 2021. 2. The semantic structure of evaluation in the works of A. Baitursynuly // Translation Technologies and Comparative Literary Studies in the Mirror of the Scientific Heritage of Akhmet Baitursynov, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Astana, October 28, 2022 (conference dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Akhmet Baitursynov). 3. Evaluation category in modern linguistics // International Scientific and Practical Conference Paradigms of Education: Theoretical and Methodological Explorations, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, February 10, 2023. 4. Linguistic representations of the “family” concept // International Scientific and Practical Conference for students, master’s students, doctoral candidates, and young scholars Education and Philological Science of the 21st Century Through the Eyes of Young Researchers, jointly organized by L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University and Bashkir State Pedagogical University named after M. Akmulla (Ufa, Russian Federation), March 17, 2023. Structure of the Dissertation. The dissertation consists of an introduction, two chapters, a conclusion, and a list of references.

Dissertation

List of Scientific Works

Consultant's Review

Foreign Consultant's Review

Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee