THE ROLE OF NATIONAL MENTALITY AND CULTURAL-ETHNOGRAPHIC UNITS IN ETHNOLINGUISTIC STUDIES

Abstract

This paper examines the role of national mentality and cultural-ethnographic units in ethnolinguistic studies, focusing on the relationship between language, culture, and national identity. Language serves not only as a means of communication but also as a repository of a nation's historical experience, collective memory, customs, traditions, and worldview. Cultural-ethnographic units, including words related to traditional customs, rituals, household objects, clothing, food, and social relationships, provide valuable information about the cultural identity of a speech community. The study discusses how such linguistic elements reflect national mentality and preserve culturally significant meanings across generations. Particular attention is given to examples from the Uzbek language, including mahalla, hashar, dasturxon, and beshik. The paper argues that the ethnolinguistic analysis of these units contributes to a deeper understanding of national identity, intercultural communication, and the relationship between linguistic meaning and cultural knowledge.