Water as a Commodity based on Epic “Manas”: A Semiotic Perspective

Abstract

This paper explores the role of water as a commodity in Kyrgyzstan from a semiotic perspective, drawing parallels between the historic Silk Road and contemporary debates surrounding water resources. It analyzes the semiotics of water, examining its representation, interpretation, and symbolic significance in the context of regional cooperation and resource management. By applying semiotic frameworks to understand the complexities of water governance, this study sheds light on the socio-political dynamics shaping water policies in Central Asia. The concept of the Great Silk Road holds immense historical and cultural significance as a symbol of connectivity and exchange between East and West. The semiotic analysis encompasses a variety of sources, including visual representations of the Silk Road's logo and imagery, along with literary works like John Masefield's poem “Cargoes” and the epic Manas. Through a comparison of the traded goods on the Silk Road in the West and the Silk Road in the East, this study reveals the similarities and differences in the portrayal of goods, the evolution of trade, and the cultural interactions facilitated by this ancient trade network. By shedding light on the semiotic dimensions of the Great Silk Road, this paper contributes to a deeper understanding of its historical and cultural significance, enriching our comprehension of this remarkable historical phenomenon.

Keywords

• water
• commodity
• kyrgyzstan
• manas
• epic
• semiotic analysis
• silk road
• socio-political dynamics
• cultural significance