The concepts of “Motherland” and “State” in Russian language

Chzhan Min' Postgraduate student, Department of Russian language and methods of its teaching, Patrice Lumumba Peoples' Friendship University of Russia 117198, Russia, Moscow region, Moscow, Miklukho-Maklaya str., 6 1042218111@pfur.ru Other publications by this author

Introduction

As is known, the term "Concept" has been widely used in such interdisciplinary sciences as philosophy of language, cultural studies, cognitive linguistics, psycholinguistics, ethnolinguistics, linguoculturology, etc. This term is considered in the works of Russian and Chinese researchers. In Russia, its representatives are D.S. Likhachev, Y.S. Stepanov, N.D. Arutyunova, V.I. Karasik, I.A. Sternin, Z.P. Popova, A.P. Babushkin, S.G. Vorkachev ^{[18, pp. 35-37]}, etc. In China the term is studied (Zhao Aygo), (Yang Mintian), (Liu Tsoang), (Jan Ssse), (sui Zhan), (Jiang Yemin), (Liu Juan), (Zhao Guodong), (Peng Vanija) ^{[18, p. 37]}, (Wen Siming) and other researchers of the Russian language.

It should be noted that E.Y. Balashova distinguishes two main approaches in Russian cognitive linguistics: linguocognitive and linguocultural. According to her, the first approach is used from the point of view that the basis of knowledge about the world around us is a unit of mental information, i.e. a concept ^{[9, p. 14]}. The second one is used to study the specifics of the national conceptual sphere from culture to consciousness ^{[9, p. 13]}. This approach defines a concept as a basic unit of culture with figurative, conceptual and value components [ibid.].

Considering the scientific articles of Chinese researchers, Wen Siming observes the following new phenomenon in China: the integration and combination of methodological and theoretical foundations about the concept of the above-mentioned Russian researchers with the results of research in China in the fields of culture, anthropology, mythology for the analysis of "concept", "conceptosphere", "conceptopolis", which are important in the study of the national language community ^{[18, p. 38]}. When analyzing various variants of the translation of the word "concept" from Russian into Chinese, she points out what Chinese researchers have in common: the assertion of its subjectivity, culture and mentality ^{[18, p. 39]}.

Referring to the idea of S.A. Askoldov about the "substitution function" of the concept ^{[6, pp. 241-242]}, D.S. Likhachev adds the following: 1) the concept exists "for each basic meaning of a word separately"; 2) "a concept of a kind" is considered as an "algebraic expression of meaning"; 3) "the substitute function of the concept facilitates linguistic communication" ^{[6, p. 242]}. According to him, the emergence of the concept "is the result of a collision of the dictionary meaning of a word with a person's personal and folk experience" ^{[6, p. 243]}. At the same time, the researcher points to the relationship and mutual influence of "cultural experience", "linguistic experience", "national, class, professional, family, personal experience" of a person and "potencies of the concept" ^{[6, pp. 243-244]}.

Analyzing the relations of the conceptual sphere (this term is understood as a set of concepts of the people) of the national language and culture of the nation, D.S. Likhachev notes that the conceptual sphere "is connected with the entire historical experience of the nation and religion" ^{[6, p. 244]}. Moreover, the relationship between concepts is determined by "the level of a person's culture, his belonging to a certain community of people, his individuality" [ibid.]. Comparing the concepts of the words of the Russian language "fatherland", "scene", "blockade", "Egyptian darkness", "legends of the deep antiquity", etc., the researcher shows that both individual words and whole phraseological units have their own concepts ^{[6, p. 245]}. According to the author, the "richness of language" depends on "the richness of vocabulary, grammatical possibilities, the conceptual world, the conceptual sphere" ^{[6, p. 250]}, etc. Therefore, "... language in the potential form of its concepts is the embodiment of the entire culture of the people" ^{[6, p. 251]}.

Based on the above, it is obvious that the concept is related to the culture of the nation, cultural, linguistic, national, social and personal experience of a person. They are interconnected and interoperable.

The concepts of "Homeland" ("Small Homeland" and "Big Homeland") and "State" are important in modern society. These concepts, which influence the formation of character, individuality, moral values, mentality and worldview of a person, accompany people throughout their lives, i.e. from birth to death. Each person has their own "small homeland". This is the place where people were born, grew up and spent their childhood. People live there with their relatives and friends. This concept is associated with a family, a house, a street, a village, a village, a town, etc. Combining different nationalities, mores and customs, culture and languages into a single state, the (big) homeland in a broad sense represents the native land, country, state. According to A.O. Boronoev, a small homeland is a part of a large homeland. Moreover, he believes that "a person's civic identity is connected with a great homeland" ^{[2, p. 62]}. The political term "State", which has a social meaning, includes four main elements: people, territory, government, sovereignty.

Referring to the ideas and thoughts about the "social space" of P. Sorokin, about the "home world" of A. Shchyutz, about the "space of places" of M. Castells, A.O. Boronoev points out the relevance of the concept of "small homeland" for "understanding the spatial and temporal cycles of human life", for "studying the problems of personal development of a person, the formation of life strategies, mentalities and identities" ^{[2, pp. 60-61]}. Analyzing this concept, its structure and role from the point of view of a systematic approach, he considers the following important aspects: 1) the role of the family (family relations and upbringing) in the development of an individual's personality; 2) the concept of "home"; 3) the social environment; 4) the cultural environment and the concept of "leisure"; 5) the natural environment ^{[2, pp. 61-65]}. Acting as important elements of a small homeland, the above-mentioned factors influence the formation of the personality of the younger generation in Russia. Moreover, the researcher emphasizes the role and importance of reading classical literature in the mental and cultural development of modern youth ^{[2, p. 64]}. According to A.O. Boronoev, the concept of "small homeland" as a "factor of culture and continuity" of the Russian people is associated with their memory of childhood and the past. He notes that "... An appeal to the place of birth is a return to oneself and to the Homeland" ^{[2, p. 66]}.

Thus, on the one hand, the study of the concepts of the words "Homeland" and "State" in the Russian language is important in educating modern Russian youth of national consciousness, positive feelings, including love and respect for their homeland. Russian Russian language. On the other hand, it helps foreign students to expand their vocabulary, better understand the Russian language, culture, people, the soul of the Russian person and enrich their cultural, linguistic and personal experience.

The main part

Russian Russian dictionary The language corpus of the research of this article mainly consists of both written (paper phraseological dictionaries of the Russian language) and electronic resources (various dictionaries of the Russian language in the form of PDF/Word), as well as online resources, including online phraseological dictionaries on the website "http://rus-yaz.niv.ru ", for example, the Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian literary language (A.I. Fedorov), Proverbs and sayings of the Russian people (V.I. Dahl), etc. Among the above-mentioned resources, in the course of the study, the study of paper dictionaries without lists of phraseological units or proverbs and sayings causes readers great difficulties in the process of searching, selecting and counting suitable examples. And using online dictionaries helps to simplify and make it easier and more convenient to search, analyze and process examples.

Russian Russian phraseological units, proverbs, and sayings considered in this work are selected from six phraseological dictionaries of the Russian language. The selected examples are either related in vocabulary to the concepts of "Homeland" and "State", or the images contained in them are related to these concepts. Moreover, the study analyzes three texts of famous Russian songs about the motherland and the state.

In the Large Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian language, the word "Homeland" is defined as: 1) The country in which a person was born and of which he is a citizen; the fatherland; the place where a person was born, where his relatives and friends live; 2) The place of origin of someone, something, the origin of something ^{[1, p. 1125]} There is a definition of the word "State" as: 1) The political form of organization of society headed by the government and its bodies, which manages society, protects its economic and social structure; 2) A country with a certain form of political organization; A system of governing bodies, a government; 3) An organization existing within another as an independent structure ^{[1, p. 223]}. In the New Philosophical Encyclopedia, the concept of this term is associated with the thought and dialogue of Plato, reflected in his most important writings – "The State" and "Laws". The first essay "The State" examines the existing types of government and the principles of public order, the doctrine of ideas, about God, about the soul, about knowledge and sciences ^{[8, p. 547]}, etc. It is noted that in the books "The State" Plato notes the following important points: the concept of justice (social and individual), the best ideal "social structure", "three estates or classes (artisans, guards and rulers)", "the system of education", "types of government and their corresponding types of people", "the nature of art and its role in a perfect society" ^{[8, pp. 547-548]}. It should be noted that Homeland is a native Russian word. The word "State" has an ancient Russian origin (from the word "sovereign").

Synonyms of the word "Homeland" represent "native country, fatherland, fatherland, fatherland, the land of the fathers; native side; native Palestine; the place of origin of something; cradle" ^{[11, p. 331]}, etc. Moreover, feelings for the homeland are different: 1) in most cases, feelings for the motherland can be positive, for example, love, identity, pride, respect, devotion, longing for the motherland, the desire to defend it, perform a feat for the glory of the motherland; 2) in a rare situation, feelings can be negative, for example, hatred, indifference, betrayal of the motherland. And synonyms of the word "State" are "country, land, power, empire, principality, kingdom, kingdom" ^{[11, p. 80]}, etc. This word, which has political and social characteristics, causes people to feel imperative, obedience, subordination, which are reflected in compliance and obedience to the law, in the exercise of personal rights of citizens and the performance of personal duties in accordance with the law.

Thus, when analyzing and comparing the concepts of these words in Russian dictionaries, it is noted that the word "Homeland", which has a spiritual and psychological flavor, is associated with such images as relatives (parent – father or mother), home, cradle, etc. And "State" is associated with political public images, for example, public devices, class, government, state bodies or institution, sovereignty, anthem, coat of arms, flag, tax, law, citizen, his rights and duties, etc. These words emphasize seriousness, solemnity, severity.

Russian Russian songs, phraseological units, proverbs and sayings also reveal the emotional differences contained in these two words. How the motherland is described in the song "Where the motherland begins", which is sung by the famous Soviet actor and singer Mark Bernes: "The motherland begins with a picture in a primer at school, with good and faithful comrades living in the neighboring yard, with a song sung by a mother to children, from a cherished bench at the gate, from a birch tree in the courtyard a field, from the spring song of a starling, from an endless country road, from windows burning in the distance ... and from the oath that people made to her in their youth in their hearts" ^[13]. In the memory and consciousness of a person, the motherland is associated with beloved, familiar things and the landscape, trees, flowers and grass in the yard, the first lesson of the native language in elementary school, songs that my mother sang. Moreover, showing love and pride for the motherland, Lyudmila Zykina's song "You are my Russia" describes that the motherland (Russia) is "mother, golden lands" ^[14]. At the same time, she is "dear, cherished and bright." It should be noted that in the anthem of Russia, when talking about the State, the following expressions are used: "holy power, beloved country, mighty will, great glory", and about the Motherland – "fatherland, native land" ^[4].

Based on the principles of classification of phraseological units and theoretical provisions on phraseology by V.V. Vinogradov, V.N. Shansky, A.I. Molotkov, V.P. Zhukov, N. F. Alefirenko, V.I. Zimin and other researchers, the following phraseological units containing concepts about the motherland and the state are distinguished by their dictionary meaning and synonymy in phraseological dictionaries of the Russian language: 1) About the motherland: motherland (mother motherland), native country, native land ^{[16, p. 261]}, native (ancestral) nest ^[15], "And the smoke of the fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us" ^{[17, p. 86]}, to return / return to our native penates ^{[12, p. 183]}; 2) About the state: the ruling power(s) ^{[17, p. 38]}, the state machine ^{[17, p. 57]}, the state within the state ^{[17, p. 58]}, the state is me ^{[5, p. 477]}, the state plan ^{[16, p. 8]}, to be tried/arrested/punished ^{[16, p. 37]}, political management, political crime ^{[16, p. 65]}, local order ^{[16, p. 74]}, embassy order ^{[16, p. 85]}, bed chamber ^{[16, p. 87]}, standing army ^{[16, p. 88]}, the rule of law ^{[16, p. 104]}, etc.

In proverbs and sayings of the Russian language there are such expressions about the motherland as "On the native side and the pebble is familiar", "Without a root and wormwood does not grow", "On the other side and the falcon is called a crow", "There are no relatives, but on the native side the heart aches", "From the native (parent) land – die, do not go!" ^{[10, p. 286]}, "Beloved homeland is the mother of the beloved", "Know how to protect the motherland", "Homeland is the mother of all mothers", "One person has a native mother, one has a Homeland", "Native land is a golden cradle" and etc. And about the state – "Everyone's power is limited by law", "Where there is power, there is power", "The sword of power is long", "He who received power for a day took off the heads of a hundred people", "In Russia, all power to passion", etc.

Russian Russian, it is obvious that the word "Homeland", associated with the images of "earth", "home", "cradle", "relatives (mother and father)", etc., reflects the feeling of love and nostalgia, psychology and the spiritual world of the Russian people, and the word "State", which has political and social signs associated with the images of "law", "government", "administrative bodies", "force", "army/armed forces", etc. This word is associated with solemnity, severity, a sense of oppression or pressure in a Russian person.

Conclusion

Thus, the concept of "Homeland" can be understood as a small homeland and a large homeland. A small homeland is associated with a place of birth, a family, a house, a street, a village, a town, etc. A large homeland in a broad sense represents a native country, a state. A small homeland is a part of a large homeland. These concepts play a role in the formation of national consciousness, spiritual values, worldview, social character, and personality of the Russian person. Russian Russian language analysis and comparison of the concepts of the words "Homeland" and "State", their images reflected in the texts of Russian songs about these concepts, in phraseological units, proverbs and sayings of the Russian language show that they, which cause different feelings and emotions in a Russian person, differ from each other in semantics and cultural connotation. The concept of "Homeland", associated with national history, culture, memory, continuity, ethnic identity, has a spiritual psychological flavor. The concept of "State", which has political and social characteristics, is associated with the images of "law", "power", "force", "army/armed force", "citizen", "rights and duties", etc. Russian Russian language's clarification of the differences in the semantics of these concepts allows speakers of other linguistic cultures to better understand their significance in the history, culture, consciousness of the Russian people, as well as their role and influence on the formation of personality, national psychology and the spiritual world of the Russian people. Russian Russian language. Moreover, the study of these concepts not only helps to foster national consciousness and positive feelings in modern Russian youth, i.e. love and respect for their homeland, culture, history, but also gives us the opportunity to expand the vocabulary of foreign students and improve their associative abilities in the process of learning or teaching Russian, to understand Russian more deeply the language, culture, people, the spiritual world of the Russian person and their correlations, enrich their cultural, linguistic and personal experience.

You can simply select and copy link from below text field.