NATIONAL AND ETHNIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OASIS ETHNOGRAPHISMS. ETHNOGRAPHIC LACUNAE

Abstract

The article examines the ethnographic vocabulary of the Sangzor–Zomin oasis, focusing on its linguistic, cultural, and historical features within the broader context of Uzbek ethnolinguistics. It explores the complex relationship between ethnographisms and dialects, discussing scholarly views on their classification and boundaries. The study emphasizes that ethnographisms serve as a vital source for enriching the national language while preserving the cultural identity of the people. Special attention is given to the origins of certain lexical items, their evolution from dialectal forms, and their reflection in ancient Turkic monuments such as Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk. Furthermore, the paper discusses ethnographic lacunae — lexical gaps arising due to cultural and linguistic asymmetry between languages — as one of the key challenges in translation and intercultural communication. The research highlights the importance of documenting and preserving regional ethnographic lexicon as an integral part of the intangible cultural heritage of Uzbekistan.