ASSOCIATIVE DICTIONARIES IN THE KAZAKH LANGUAGE: ANALYSIS BASED ON EXPERIMENTAL DATA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47526/3107-3085.60Keywords:
associative dictionary, free associative experiment, stimulus word, linguistic consciousness, Turkic-speaking students, psycholinguistics.Abstract
Describing the structure of linguistic consciousness on the basis of experimental data is currently regarded as one of the most relevant directions in psycholinguistics and associative lexicography. Although associative studies have been conducted in Kazakh linguistics, empirical research that systematically describes associative relations of lexical units in the linguistic consciousness of learners of Kazakh as a second language remains insufficient. In this regard, the present article analyzes the associative fields of lexical units in the linguistic consciousness of Turkic-speaking students learning Kazakh.
The aim of the study is to identify semantic, cultural, and cognitive connections of stimulus words in the Kazakh language through the results of an associative experiment and to describe them from the perspective of associative lexicography. To achieve this aim, the following objectives were set: selecting stimulus words; conducting a free associative experiment; systematizing the obtained responses and classifying them into semantic groups; and analyzing the structural features of associative fields.
The empirical basis of the study consists of the results of a free associative experiment conducted among 70 Turkic-speaking students learning Kazakh as a second language. The respondents were presented with 32 stimulus words selected from A1-level educational materials and were asked to provide 5-7 associative responses to each stimulus.
The theoretical and methodological framework of the study is based on the works of leading scholars in associative lexicography and psycholinguistics, including Yu.N. Karaulov, E.F. Tarasov, N.V. Ufimtseva, A.A. Leontiev, and N.V. Dmitryuk. The research employed the methods of the free associative experiment, descriptive analysis, semantic grouping, and frequency analysis.
The results demonstrate that the associative responses of Turkic-speaking students reveal semantic, cultural, and evaluative connections simultaneously. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the systematic description of associative fields in the linguistic consciousness of learners of Kazakh based on experimental data and in the development of an initial empirical database for compiling an associative learner’s dictionary of the Kazakh language.
The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of applying the obtained materials in Kazakh language teaching methodology, in the development of associative educational dictionaries, as well as in applied research in cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, and intercultural communication.
References
1. Караулов Ю.Н., Тарасов Е.Ф., Сорокин Ю.А., Уфимцева Н.В., Черкасова Г.А. Ассоциативный тезаурус современного русского языка. – М.: Институт языкознания РАН, 1994. – 534 с.
2. Кент Г., Розанов А. Психологические исследования по методике свободных ассоциаций // Архив психологии. – 1910. – Т. 1. – С. 1-50.
3. Леонтьев А.А. Словарь ассоциативных норм русского языка. – М.: Издательство Московского университета, 1977. – 192 с.
4. Абаева М.К., Дмитрюк Н.В., Уфимцев Н.В. Исследовательский потенциал ассоциативной лексикографии: перспективы диахронических исследований в Казахстане // Тілтаным. – 2021. – №3 (95). – С. 72-84.
5. Дмитрюк Н.В. Казахско-русский ассоциативный словарь (КРАС). – Чимкент, 1978. – 246 с.
6. Дмитрюк Н.В., Молдалиева Д.А., Нарожная В.Д., Молданова Ж.И., Мезенцева Е.С., Сандыбаева Н.А., Абрамова Г.И. Қазақша ассоциативтік сөздік / Казахский ассоциативный словарь (КАС). – Алматы; Москва: Медиа-Логос, 2014. – 330 с.
7. Уфимцева Н.В., Балясникова Н.Р. О национальной специфике языкового сознания (на материале русских ассоциативных словарей) // Вестник Челябинского государственного университета. – 2018. – №2 (410). – С. 135-140.
8. Залевская А.А. Экспериментальное исследование ассоциативной структуры памяти // Педагогика и психология. – Алма-Ата: КазГПИ, 1969. – С. 58-69.
9. Қадашева Қ.Қ., Асанова Ұ.О., Мырзаханова А.Қ. Лексикографиялық жүйе: оқу сөздіктерінің түрлері мен жасалу әдістері // Ясауи университетінің хабаршысы. – 2025. – №2 (136). – Б. 267-277.
10. Фазылжанова А.М., Дмитрюк Н.В., Орынбетова Э.А., Назарова А.Ж. Современная казахстанская психолингвистика: ассоциативные аспекты // Тілтаным. – 2023. – Т. 92, №4. – С. 120-132. https://doi.org/10.55491/2411-6076-2023-4-120-132.
11. Қазақ ассоциат-сөздер лұғаты. – Алматы: Қазақ кітабы, 2025. – 544 б.
12. Қадашева Қ., Омарова С.Қ., Асанова Ұ.О., Амиржанова А.О. Ассоциативтік өріс және ортақ сөздер оқу сөздігі (А1–А2): оқу-әдістемелік кешен. – Түркістан: Тұран, 2023. – 149 б.
13. Алдашева Қ.С., Набидуллин А.С. Лексикалық жаңалықтардың менталды лексиконындағы ассоциативтік-вербалды желісі: эмпирикалық зерттеу нәтижелері // әл-Фараби атындағы ҚазҰУ Хабаршысы. Филология сериясы. – 2022. – №3(187). – Б. 9-24.
14. Volskaya Y.A. Associative experiment on the material of abstractness/concreteness ratings: a comparative aspect // RUDN Journal of Language Studies, Semiotics and Semantics. – 2024. – Vol. 15, No. 3. – P. 786-801. – https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2299-2024-15-3-786-801.
15. Kiss G.R., Armstrong C., Milroy R., Piper J. An associative thesaurus of English: a corpus of associations. – London: Edwin Arnold, 1972. – 200 p.
16. Караулов Ю.Н. Русский язык и языковая личность. – М.: Наука, 2002. – 264 с.
17. Медведева Е.Ю. Ассоциативный словарь как способ описания языкового сознания // Вестник МГПУ. Серия: Филологические науки. – 2013. – №5 (15). – С. 82-89.
18. Медетбекова П.Т., Кордабай Б.К., Алдашева К.С. Ұлттық ассоциативтік сөздікті құрастырудың лингвистикалық қағидалары: сандық және сапалық зерттеу // Абылай хан атындағы ҚазХҚжӘТУ хабаршысы. Филология сериясы. – 2026. – №1(80). – Б. 253-265. https://doi.org/10.48371/PHILS.2026.1.80.015.
REFERENCES
1. Karaulov Ju.N., Tarasov E.F., Sorokin Iu.A., Ufimceva N.V., Cherkasova G.A. Associativnyi tezaurus sovremennogo russkogo iazyka [Associative thesaurus of the modern Russian language]. – M.: Institut iazykoznania RAN, 1994. – 534 s. [in Russian]
2. Kent G., Rozanov A. Psihologicheskie issledovania po metodike svobodnyh associaci [Psychological research using the methodology of free associations] // Arhiv psihologii. – 1910. – T. 1. – S. 1-50. [in Russian]
3. Leontev A.A. Slovar associativnyh norm russkogo iazyka [Dictionary of associative norms of the Russian language]. – M.: Izdatelstvo Moskovskogo universiteta, 1977. – 192 s. [in Russian]
4. Abaeva M.K., Dmitriuk N.V., Ufimcev N.V. Issledovatelski potencial associativnoi leksikografii: perspektivy diahronicheskih issledovani v Kazahstane [The research potential of associative lexicography: prospects of diachronic research in Kazakhstan] // Tіltanym. – 2021. – №3 (95). – S. 72-84. [in Russian]
5. Dmitriuk N.V. Kazahsko-russki associativnyi slovar (KRAS) [Kazakh-Russian Associative Dictionary (KRAD)]. – Chimkent, 1978. – 246 s. [in Russian]
6. Dmitriuk N.V., Moldalieva D.A., Narozhnaia V.D., Moldanova Zh.I., Mezenceva E.S., Sandybaeva N.A., Abramova G.I. Qazaqsha associativtіk sozdіk / Kazahski associativnyi slovar (KAS) [Kazakh associative dictionary]. – Almaty; Moskva: Media-Logos, 2014. – 330 s. [in Kazakh]
7. Ufimceva N.V., Baliasnikova N.R. O nacionalnoi specifike iazykovogo soznania (na materiale russkih associativnyh slovarei) [On the national specifics of linguistic consciousness (based on the material of Russian associative dictionaries)] // Vestnik Cheliabinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. – 2018. – №2 (410). – S. 135-140. [in Russian]
8. Zalevskaia A.A. Eksperimentalnoe issledovanie associativnoi struktury pamiati [Experimental study of the associative structure of memory] // Pedagogika i psihologia. – Alma-Ata: KazGPI, 1969. – S. 58-69. [in Russian]
9. Qadasheva Q.Q., Asanova U.O., Myrzahanova A.Q. Leksikografialyq zhuie: oqu sozdіkterіnіn turlerі men zhasalu adіsterі [Lexicographic system: types and methods of creation of educational dictionaries] // Iasaui universitetіnіn habarshysy. – 2025. – №2 (136). – B. 267-277. [in Kazakh]
10. Fazylzhanova A.M., Dmitriuk N.V., Orynbetova E.A., Nazarova A.Zh. Sovremennaia kazahstanskaia psiholingvistika: associativnye aspekty [Modern Kazakh psycholinguistics: associative aspects] // Tіltanym. – 2023. – T. 92, №4. – S. 120-132. https://doi.org/10.55491/2411-6076-2023-4-120-132. [in Russian]
11. Qazaq associat-sozder lugaty [Kazakh Associat-words]. – Almaty: Qazaq kіtaby, 2025. – 544 b. [in Kazakh]
12. Qadasheva Q., Omarova S.Q., Asanova U.O., Amirzhanova A.O. Associativtіk orіs zhane ortaq sozder oqu sozdіgі (A1–A2): oqu-adіstemelіk keshen [Educational Dictionary of associative field and common words (A1–A2): educational and methodological complex]. – Turkіstan: Turan, 2023. – 149 b. [in Kazakh]
13. Aldasheva Q.S., Nabidullin A.S. Leksikalyq zhanalyqtardyn mentaldy leksikonyndagy associativtіk-verbaldy zhelіsі: empirikalyq zertteu natizhelerі [Associative-verbal network in the mental lexicon of lexical discoveries: results of an empirical study] // al-Farabi atyndagy QazUU Habarshysy. Filologia seriasy. – 2022. – №3(187). – B. 9-24. [in Kazakh]
14. Volskaya Y.A. Associative experiment on the material of abstractness/concreteness ratings: a comparative aspect // RUDN Journal of Language Studies, Semiotics and Semantics. – 2024. – Vol. 15, No. 3. – P. 786-801. – https://doi.org/10.22363/2313-2299-2024-15-3-786-801.
15. Kiss G.R., Armstrong C., Milroy R., Piper J. An associative thesaurus of English: a corpus of associations. – London: Edwin Arnold, 1972. – 200 p.
16. Karaulov Iu.N. Russki iazyk i iazykovaia lichnost [Russian language and linguistic personality]. – M.: Nauka, 2002. – 264 s. [in Russian]
17. Medvedeva E.Iu. Associativnyi slovar kak sposob opisania iazykovogo soznania [Associative vocabulary as a way of describing linguistic consciousness] // Vestnik MGPU. Seria: Filologicheskie nauki. – 2013. – №5 (15). – S. 82-89. [in Russian]
18. Medetbekova P.T., Kordabai B.K., Aldasheva K.S. Ulttyq associativtіk sozdіktі qurastyrudyn lingvistikalyq qagidalary: sandyq zhane sapalyq zertteu [Linguistic principles of compiling a national associative dictionary: quantitative and qualitative research] // Abylai han atyndagy QazHQzhATU habarshysy. Filologia seriasy. – 2026. – №1(80). – B. 253-265. https://doi.org/10.48371/PHILS.2026.1.80.015. [in Kazakh]
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Yassawi Journal of Philology
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
