Ordinary semantics of the bionyms “kukushka”/“hek” as a reflection of mental and cultural similarities and interethnic differences (a case study of Russian and Tuvan languages)

This work contributes to the study of modern ethnoconceptology, specifically its aspects concerning linguistic and metalinguistic consciousness. We present the findings of an experimental study on the semantics of the bionyms “kukushka”/“hek” (a cuckoo) across various ethnic groups. Data analysis revealed universal bionym features attributable to the objective characteristics of the referent and the nationally specific features linked to idioethnic ordinary linguistic consciousness and national perspective. Typical representations of the cuckoo in the common understanding of Russian and Tuvan peoples revealed distinctive national and cultural interpretations of the bird. As a symbol of the warm season, the cuckoo is included in the imagery of the Tuvan national calendar. The conventional Russian understanding of the cuckoo is characterized by a wider associative range attributable to the polysemy of the lexeme. The semantic range of this lexeme extends beyond ornithological meaning to encompass various other interpretations. Russian and Tuvan linguistic cultures exhibit an ambivalent understanding of the cuckoo. On the one hand, the cuckoo is regarded negatively, embodying numerous human failings. On the other hand, the image undergoes sacralization due to the mythological endowment with prophetic gifts, which is related to its ability to predict human lifespans and the commencement of warmer temperatures.

Keywords

Authors

References