Lessons 4–5 · 2 lessons · B. Mengliyev, Sh. Toshmirzayeva, S. Atoyeva, S. Majidova. Ona tili (Uzbek language), Grade 11, Part 2. “O‘qituvchi” publishing and printing creative house, Tashkent, 2020
4
Working with text and dictionary
Textbook: Part 2, pp. 13–15
GoalGrasp the symbolic meaning of a text and understand unfamiliar words correctly with the help of an explanatory dictionary.
New words
symbol · ramzfigurative meaning · ko‘chma ma’noexplanatory dictionary · izohli lug‘atconclusion of a text · matn xulosasi
Explanation
In a symbolic text another, deeper meaning hides behind the events: images such as a candle, a river or a road express human qualities. When reading such a text one first notices the title and the main image and then thinks about what they stand for. If an unfamiliar word occurs, one first guesses from the sentence and then brings the word back to its dictionary form: yoritmoqda – yoritmoq (to light up), so‘ndi – so‘nmoq (to go out). In an explanatory dictionary the meanings of a word are numbered, and figurative, archaic or colloquial senses are marked with special labels. The sense that fits is chosen from the context; taking the first meaning in the dictionary is not always right.
Worked examples
“The Candle”. A candle burned only to show others the way, losing a bit of itself every moment. A guest said: “You are always getting smaller.” The candle answered: “The smaller I get, the brighter the room; that is enough for me.” At dawn the candle went out, but the child reading a book had managed to finish the exercise. Symbol: the candle is a selfless person who spends himself for others.
Meanings of yonmoq (generalised, similar to a dictionary order): 1) to burn with fire – wood is burning; 2) to give light – a lamp is lit; 3) figurative: to strive with great passion – to burn for knowledge. “Yonar” in the text is close to the second sense but as a symbol it also recalls the third.
Class activity
“Find the symbol”: groups read the text “The Candle”, write in one sentence what the candle stands for and compare with another group’s idea.
Practice
1
What is a symbol? Name the symbol in the text.
A symbol is an image that points to another, deeper meaning; in the text the candle symbolises a selfless person.
2
Bring yoritmoqda, kamayganim, so‘ndi back to the dictionary form.
Yoritmoq, kamaymoq, so‘nmoq.
3
Which sense fits: “The child studies burning for knowledge”? Give its number (see the dictionary note above).
Sense 3: figurative, striving with passion.
4
Why does taking a figurative word literally distort the meaning of a text?
Because the figurative sense means something other than the basic meaning; a literal reading loses the symbol.