THE IMAGE OF VLADIMIR PUTIN IN THE LINGUISTIC CONSCIOUSNESS OF AFRICANS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF FOREIGN CADETS OF A MILITARY UNIVERSITY)

Abstract

The article describes structure of the concept of “Putin,” reflected in the linguistic consciousness of military university cadets who came to study in Russia from African countries. The idea of the Russian president is a reflection of the idea of the country as a whole. Since Russia has recently taken an increasingly significant position in the foreign policy arena (with regard to the African continent), it would be quite natural to determine to what extent the structure of the concept of “Putin” is formed in the linguistic consciousness of Africans. The revealed structure of the concept includes nuclear components (the president of Russia, smart, patriot, serious, strategist, hero of Russia, reliable friend to other countries, talented politician, the most famous president in the world). This indicates that Putin as a symbol of Russia in the linguistic consciousness of Africans is characterized (1) through a set of personal and professional characteristics, each of which is positive, and (2) through the perception of his positive attitude towards African countries. The peripheral components of the concept expand the image of V.V. Putin, because they associate him with the army, politics, sports, etc. In general, the image is absolutely positive, which indicates a positive perception of the foreign policy pursued by the Russian presidents in the countries of the African continent.