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ETHNIC IMAGE OF THE WORLD AND METAPHORS OF COMMUNICATION PARTNERS WITH DIFFERENT ETHNOCULTURAL EXTERNAL APPEARANCE

Valeriya D. Alperovich

Abstract

Theoretical framework. The paper touches on the problem of distinctions in metaphorical representations about people with similar and different ethnocultural appearances as representations of various ethnic "images of the world". The objective of this research is comparative analysis of metaphors of "friends" and "aliens" having different ethnocultural appearances in members of the same ethnocultural group. The subject of this research was metaphors of "friends" and "aliens" having the Slavic, the Caucasian and the Asian appearance as used by people of the Slavic appearance. Methods. Classification of metaphors and correlation analysis were used, as well as the author's technique for metaphors of "friends" and "aliens" with different ethnocultural appearances. Results. The metaphorical images of "alien" people and "enemies" having the Asian appearance have been found to be more positive than metaphorical images of "alien" people and "enemies" with the Caucasian appearance. The Caucasian appearance "friends" were more frequently characterized in positive terms than "friends" with Asian appearance. The respondents perceived "friends" having the Caucasian appearance as more similar to them than the Asian appearance "friends". Conclusion. The author has come to the conclusion that in personal perception images of "friends" with various ethnocultural appearances may have the similar structure and be based on the similar criteria of categorizing other people into "friends" and "aliens", but the images of "aliens" with various ethnocultural appearances can have a different structure. Stereotype metaphors of partners having the Slavic, the Caucasian and the Asian appearance have demonstrated the influence of ethnocultural codes on representations about others as members of different ethnocultural groups. Theoretical implications. The results can be of use for studies of ethnic identity, ethnic "images of the world" and discrimination.

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