About the Origin of the Words “Azhyn” and “Azha”

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Abstract

In the scholarly discourse, the author undertakes an investigation into the historical antecedents of regular expressions, exemplified by the term “abysyn-azhyn” within the cultural milieu of Kazakh society. This nomenclature, specifically attributed to senior women within dynastic contexts, directs attention towards characters manifesting in folkloric genres, such as myths, fairy tales, and legends, emerging during the epoch of matriarchy. The etymology of the compound term “azhyn”, appended to “Abysyn”, denotes its original signification as “goddess” or “godmother”. Over temporal epochs, this term undergoes a semantic evolution, extending its usage to dignitaries such as “great khan” and “great king”. The author meticulously delineates the semantic nuances of this lexical entity, demonstrating its prevalence not only within the lexicon of the Kazakh populace but also among diverse Turkic communities. In addition to scrutinizing the Turkic linguistic domain, the author engages in typological analyses, scrutinizing analogous terms embedded within the linguistic fabric of disparate cultural and linguistic entities, encompassing Russian, Hungarian, Indian, Persian, and Caucasian societies. This comprehensive approach illuminates the cross-cultural diffusion and semantic evolution of analogous expressions. The scholarly inquiry extends beyond linguistic considerations to encompass mythological realms, exploring the transmutation of this term within the narrative frameworks of myths, fairy tales, and epics. The author adeptly navigates the dichotomy wherein, while denoted as a benevolent deity in the folklore of one community, the term metamorphoses into a malevolent entity akin to a dragon, instigating adversity in the religious and literary narratives of other people. Substantiating these contentions, the author draws upon the scholarly corpus and insights of researchers from the respective cultural and academic spheres. Furthermore, the author traces the diachronic trajectory of this lexical entity, elucidating its gradual obsolescence and subsequent relegation to familial contexts, akin to designations such as “grandmother”. The term “azhyn” thus assumes an intimate, domesticated connotation, designating elder maternal figures within the familial framework. This nuanced exploration not only unveils linguistic evolution but also underscores the socio-cultural transformations that have shaped the semantic landscape of this lexical entity over time.