Tasks in Cultural Linguistics Task 1

Tasks in Cultural Linguistics

Task 1
Find out 10 culture-specific vocabulary (realia) in Uzbek language and try to give their definitions in English. (like you are explaining it to a foreigner). You can choose one or two subtypes of realia (dishes, clothes, holidays, games, etc.)
Example:
Sumalak - a wheat bran pudding//a sweet paste is a dish cooked for spring festival of Navruz. The practice of cooking sumalakis traced back toZoroastrianism. Sumalakis made from germinated wheat and cooked in a huge cauldron/ pot for the whole day and night. As sumalak should be constantly c stirred with a large spade-like skimmerfriends, relatives and neighbors are invited to come and help. So, the process of cooking sumalak is an interesting ritual, which aims not only to prepare a tasty meal, but also to foster mutual support and unity. There is the tradition of preparing sumalak with the participation of a whole mahalla (community) or street.The mostly female crowd gathers around the pot to sing songs, laugh, eat and take turns stirring the pot, making wishes. In the morning still warm sumalak is distributed among neighbours, relatives and friends.There is also a belief that if one tastessumalak from seven cauldrons in one season, he/she would become happy.

Task 2
Find out 10 national-specific and culture relevant phraseological units in English and Uzbek languages.
Step 1. Find English/Uzbek equivalents of the phraseological units. If there are no equivalents, provide their translation and definition identifying meaning in English/Uzbek.
Step 2. Identify linguistic factors that provide their national-cultural aspect (realia, symbols, images) and comment on them
Example:
Juda’s kiss - an act of betrayal.The phrase alludes to the Biblical story of the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, disciple who betrayed Jesus to the authorities in return for thirty pieces of silver. The idiom is used as a symbol meaning “betrayer”. For example: Later, I understood that he gave me a Juda’s kiss.
National-cultural specifics of this idiom can be explained by the followings: 1) the reference to Bible, which is considered to be sacred book of Christians who the English belong to; 2) the idiom belongs to non-equivalent vocabulary; 3) the usage of nationally-specific anthroponym as a component.


Task 3

1. 
   Different symbols and images represent different cultures. For example, half-moon is a symbol of the Islamic religion, crescent is a symbol of the Christians. Think and fill in the chart below with cultural symbols. (See an example).
   
2. 
   Try to explain cultural factors and reasons that presupposed the usage of exact symbols or images to describe a particular sphere
   

Example:

These phrases are connected with the colors of people’s collars worn at work. These can commonly reflect one's occupation.

White-collar workers are usually professionals named so for the white-collared shirts worn among them, office workers and others.
The phrase “Blue-collar”taken from the image of manual workers wearing blue denim or chambray shirts as part of their uniforms because theyinexpensive and do not show dirt easily.