THE DISCURSIVE REPRESENTATION OF THE CONCEPT OF “HOMELAND” IN SPANISH AND UZBEK: EVIDENCE FROM APHORISMS AND PROVERBS

Abstract

 The concept of “Homeland” occupies a central position in the linguistic and cultural worldviews of many nations, functioning as a key value category through which collective identity, historical memory, moral norms, and emotional attachment are articulated. This article explores the discursive features of the concept of “Homeland” as expressed in Spanish and Uzbek through aphorisms and proverbs, which represent condensed forms of collective experience and cultural reflection. Drawing on cognitive linguistics, discourse analysis, and linguocultural studies, the research examines how the concept is verbalized, metaphorically structured, and pragmatically oriented in both linguistic traditions. The analysis reveals both universal and culture-specific features in the conceptualization of Homeland, including spatial, familial, emotional, ethical, and axiological dimensions. While Spanish aphorisms and proverbs often emphasize historical continuity, sacrifice, and moral duty toward the patria, Uzbek paremias foreground notions of sacred land, ancestral legacy, moral responsibility, and inseparable ties between homeland and personal honor. The study demonstrates that aphorisms and proverbs serve as powerful discursive tools that transmit culturally embedded meanings of Homeland across generations, reinforcing national identity and value systems.