THE ASSOCIATIVE METHOD OF REPRESENTING THE CONCEPTUAL CONTENT OF WORDS (BASED ON THE RUSSIAN AND TUVAN LANGUAGES)

Abstract

The paper explores the heuristic potential of the associative method for representing the conceptual content of words in conducting a linguocognitive study. Using the example of the bionyms Rus. sokol and Tuvan khartyga (falcon), represented in Russian and Tuvan linguocultures respectively, and based on the results of an associative experiment, the study identifies universal and nationally specific aspects of the ordinary semantics of bionyms, reflecting the connection between language, consciousness, and culture. It has been established that the universal features of the two bionyms include physical characteristics of the bird (external qualities of the referent, flight speed and predatory behavior). The nationally specific properties of the studied bionyms are determined by the ethnocultural context. Against the backdrop of the general perception of sokol / khartyga as a symbolic embodiment of masculinity and its best virtues – courage, pride, and bravery – in Russian culture, the sokol is associated with the image of a noble and brave warrior. This is reflected in frequent associations tied to the images of falcons found in epic literature, folklore, and cinema. Meanwhile, in Tuvan culture, khartyga, also embodying masculinity, is linked to the image of a fighter – a participant in the national wrestling competition khuresh, which imbues the bionym khartyga with a unique ethnocultural meaning.