Abstract
This article analyzes the linguocognitive nature of the concept of “child” in the Kazakh language. The aim of the study is to determine its place in the Kazakh linguistic worldview, describe its semantic space, and identify its functional features in literary discourse. The research materials include proverbs and sayings, data from explanatory and phraseological dictionaries, ethnographic sources, as well as literary and folklore texts. The total corpus volume amounted to approximately 210,000 word tokens; 428 contexts were analyzed using a continuous sampling method. The study employed a combination of conceptual, descriptive-analytical, and contextual methods, supplemented by elements of quantitative analysis. Based on the frequency distribution of semantic features, a structural model of the concept was constructed according to the “core-periphery”scheme. It was established that the dominant components are associated with generational continuity, family values, and the perceptions of the child as a spiritual and cultural symbol. In literary texts, the concept is realized through metaphorical and figurative models, forming the value core of the work. The study’s results confirm the cultural significance of the concept within the national consciousness.