THE LINGUOCULTURAL SEMANTICS OF PLANT-BASED EXPRESSIONS IN TURKISH AND THEIR ROLE IN HUMAN CONCEPTUALIZATION

This article examines the linguocultural semantics of plant-based expressions in the Turkish language and their role in the conceptualization of human characteristics, emotions, and social identities. The study focuses on the metaphorical and symbolic meanings of phytonyms in Turkish idioms, proverbs, and figurative expressions, emphasizing their relationship with national traditions, cultural values, and collective perceptions. Drawing on cognitive linguistics, conceptual metaphor theory, and linguocultural analysis, the research explores how plant-related lexical units represent human appearance, personality traits, moral qualities, and interpersonal relationships. Particular attention is paid to the cultural associations of flowers, trees, fruits, and other botanical elements in Turkish linguistic consciousness. The article also discusses the anthropocentric nature of plant-based metaphors and their significance in constructing culturally specific representations of human identity.