Abstract

This paper examines the role of Bata blessings in contemporary Kazakhstan (1991–2024), focusing on their function beyond traditional ritual. Bata blessings are a Turkic oral tradition based on the strong belief that words can remove dishonor and bring well-being. This study argues that, while mostly recognized for conveying positive wishes and respect, bata blessings also function as a subtle form of socio-political critique. Drawing on a corpus of 15 bata blessings directed at politicians, collected from social media platforms and televised events, the analysis uses discourse analysis to examine how speakers construct meaning within this spoken genre. It shows that, by using the cultural respect devoted to bata, speakers subtly assert influence and deliver critique, shifting the usual balance of authority in public interactions. I categorize these blessings into three functional roles: as a medium of exchange, a guideline, and a tool for critique. The main findings suggest that bata as an exchange tool tends to appear in informal, localized contexts, whereas critique-oriented bata is more likely to be uttered in the presence of larger audiences. The guideline function, though less frequent, stands out for its prescriptive tone, including the use of second-person imperative forms, which contrasts with the standard form of bata. By examining bata as a medium of indirect critique, this research contributes to broader discussions on the role of language in politics and the ways cultural traditions shape public communication. It shows how oral genres can serve both as a site of cultural preservation and as a tool for negotiating power in contemporary societies.