Linguistic and Cognitive Characteristics of The Lexeme Mamlakat

Abstract

This study examines the linguistic and cognitive characteristics of the lexeme mamlakat in the Uzbek language. The research analyzes its semantic structure, stylistic features, synonymic relations, and conceptual content within different functional styles. Special attention is given to its position within the synonymic series of vatan and its semantic interaction with lexemes such as yurt, el, xalq, davlat, respublika, and saltanat. The study demonstrates that the lexeme mamlakat possesses a complex semantic structure that includes the meanings of territory, state sovereignty, political entity, people, and collective identity. From a stylistic perspective, the lexeme is predominantly associated with publicistic, official, and scientific discourse, while its use in literary texts is comparatively less frequent. The cognitive analysis reveals that mamlakat functions not only as a geographical or political designation but also as a conceptual unit reflecting national identity, collective belonging, and statehood within the Uzbek linguistic worldview. The findings confirm that the lexeme integrates formal, political, and institutional connotations with broader socio-cultural meanings, which makes it a key conceptual element in the representation of the concept of homeland and state in Uzbek linguistic consciousness.