Abai’s poetry in Eco’s semiotic light

Abstract

The article explores the poetry of Abai Qunanbaiuly, a renowned philosopher and a founder of modern Kazakh literature, through the semiotic perspective of Umberto Eco. The study is a part of a broader research project in cultural studies titled “Semiotic Interpretation of Culture by Umberto Eco.” Specifically, the poem under analysis is “Allanyn özi de ras, sözi de ras” (“Allah is truth, His word is truth”), written in 1902. While Abai’s works initially garnered great enthusiasm, they now provoke heated discussions within Kazakh society. By applying a semiotic approach, this study offers a fresh perspective on Abai’s poetry, enabling new insights and interpretations.