THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD IN ALISHER NAVOIY’S WORKS

Abstract

Alisher Navoi, a towering figure in Eastern literature, holds a prestigious position in the history of Turkic, Persian, and world poetry for his unique vision of language and words. Words, for Navoiy, were not merely vehicles of communication; they embodied the essence of human wisdom, morality, and spirituality. His treatises, poems, and philosophical reflections consistently demonstrate a profound appreciation for the word, investing it with ethical, aesthetic, and at times even mystical qualities. The notion of “the word” (“so‘z”) in Navoiy’s works extends far beyond its linguistic function and may be considered the very heart of meaning and poetry itself. In this paper, we will explore how Alisher Navoiy conceptualizes, defines, and venerates the word in his vast oeuvre, focusing especially on his prose and poetic output, and highlight the moral, philosophical, and literary dimensions that the word acquires in his worldview