National Code in the Literature of Kazakhstan and Central Asia

The aim of this study is to explore how the “national code,” encompassing cultural values, historical memory, and identity, is represented in Kazakh and Central Asian literature through the lenses of classical narratology and distant reading. The research employs a mixed-method approach that integrates narratological analysis (drawing on Genette’s and Greimas’s frameworks), close and distant reading (including computational text analysis), and data validation through translation cross-checks and visualizations. The study focuses on Central Asian literary texts, revealing distinctive features such as collective narration, nonlinear time structures, and strong national identity motifs. Unlike Western narratives centered on individualism, these works employ epic structures, kinship networks, depictions of nature, and spiritual themes to convey cultural memory. Comparative analysis highlights unique narratological patterns shaped by regional traditions. The findings demonstrate that Central Asian fiction embeds history, tradition, and moral values into narrative form, turning literature into a medium for preserving cultural heritage and fostering national self-understanding. The study underscores the need to adapt classical narratology to culturally specific contexts and suggests pedagogical applications for teaching literature as both artistic expression and a means of civic education.