Metaphors in the Language of Zhyrau: Structural Features and Functional Role

Abstract

This article explores the structural and functional characteristics of metaphors in the poetic language of zhyrau, who played a pivotal role in shaping Kazakh national consciousness and identity. The study investigates metaphors not only as stylistic devices but also as essential cognitive and discursive structures rooted in historical, social, and cultural contexts. Drawing on cognitive, structural-semantic, mythopoetic, and comparative-historical methods, the authors classify metaphors found in tolgau poetry into individual (authorial), conceptual, archetypal (symbolic), and discourse-based types. The article demonstrates how metaphors in zhyrau poetry express philosophical reflections, national ideology, and social critique, functioning as tools for political communication and historical narration. The poetic texts of prominent zhyrau such as Bukhar, Makhambet, Kaztugan, and Dospambet are analyzed to reveal the depth and diversity of metaphorical expressions, including equestrian, martial, and natural imagery. Through detailed textual analysis, the authors show how metaphor serves as a bridge between artistic expression and conceptual thought, enabling zhyrau to convey complex ideas on leadership, aging, conflict, and unity. The research emphasizes the syncretic role of the zhyrau—as poet, advisor, strategist, and ideologue—within the governance structure of the Kazakh Khanate. Ultimately, the study concludes that metaphor in zhyrau poetics is a multidimensional phenomenon that preserves and transmits national values, worldview, and historical memory, making it an integral part of Kazakhstan’s literary and cultural heritage.