Linguistic Representation of the Concept of Wind in the Kazakh Worldview

This article considers the conceptualization of natural phenomena in the Kazakh linguistic worldview using the concept “wind” as an example. An analysis of the linguistic representation, derivational field and cognitive characteristics of this concept was carried out based on the language data taken mainly from lexicographic sources. The article substantiates the notions of the concept and linguistic worldview, and determines the place of weather phenomena in the conceptual sphere of nomads. The nominative field of the concept “wind” as one of the basic concepts of the “Weather” sphere is described and analyzed. The author, by analyzing the names of winds in the Kazakh language, reveals the cognitive characteristics of the concept “wind”, such as geographical location, time period, intensity and temperature, evaluativeness and imagery. It is shown that the lexeme “zhel” as a basic designation of the concept “wind” has great word-formation potential. The reflection of this concept in phraseology and paremiology is also considered and it is determined that wind is a symbol of movement, speed and activity. The image of wind is also present in folklore and folk meteorology sources. Thus, the lexical system of the language reflects the diversity of cognitive characteristics of weather phenomena, in particular the wind, which proves their important role in the worldview of the ethnos. The research material was based on data from fundamental dictionaries of the Kazakh language, research works of Kazakh scholars and data from Internet sources. It is concluded that the concept “wind” is a linguocultural and nationally specific concept.