THEOLINGUISTICS IN GLOBAL AND UZBEK CONTEXTS: CONCEPT, HISTORY, AND CHALLENGES
Keywords:
theolinguistics, religious language, theology and linguistics, sacred texts, discourse and religion, Islam and linguistics, Uzbekistan, tafsir tradition, language and cultureAbstract
this article examines the field of theolinguistics, an interdisciplinary area of study at the intersection of linguistics, theology, philosophy, and cultural history. Beginning with its conceptual foundations and historical development in early Christian and Islamic traditions, the discussion traces how language has functioned as both a medium of divine revelation and a tool of theological reflection.
The paper highlights contributions of key Western and Islamic scholars, from Thomas Aquinas to Abdul-Raof and Al-Attas, while also addressing contemporary expansions of the discipline, including comparative theology and discourse analysis. Particular attention is given to the Uzbek and Central Asian context, where classical scholars such as Imam al-Bukhari and Imam al-Maturidi, as well as modern Uzbek translators and commentators of the Qur’an, have shaped the intersection of language and religion. The article also identifies core challenges in theolinguistics such as its multidisciplinary demands, cultural diversity, translation difficulties, and the risks of subjectivity while underscoring its potential to generate new insights into how language both reflects and shapes religious belief, practice, and identity.
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