Определение шаловливости как компонента игровой компетентности через реконструкцию семантических элементов концепта «шаловливость»

Abstract

The aim of the article is to outline the semantic scope of the concept ofimpishness and to define «impishness» as a component of ludic competence viarestructuring its semantic elements.The main method of research is a psycholinguistic experiment. The samplecomprised 400 respondents (aged 30–60 years), male and female respondentsbeing equally represented.The results of the research enabled us to conclude that the concept of«impishness» in the linguistic consciousness of the Russian-speaking people ofUkraine is represented by four core clusters: «horseplay» (34.25%), «flirting»(15%), «childish behaviour» (11.25%) and «womanlike behaviour» (8.5%).Among peripheral clusters there is a peculiar cluster «ability of creativeand devious imagination» (2.5%) which reflects the cognitive component of«impishness». The analysis of semantic clusters of the concept «impishness»also revealed significant differences between male and female samples. Womenassociate «impishness» with a child’s behaviour (f. 7.25% / m. 1.5%) whereasmen tend to associate it with a woman’s behaviour (f. 0% / m. 7.5%). Peripheralclusters «madness», «behaviour during sexual intercourse», «lecherousness»mostly include male reactions, while «animal behaviour» and «active behavior»mostly contain female reactions. Relying on the results of cluster analysis of theconcept «impishness» and on the main components of impishness according toA. Fomintseva, we define «impishness» as the ability to deliberately create «self-challenging» situations while interacting with the subject/object of a prank withthe aim to experience intense positive emotions, e.g. while exploring forbiddensubjects or expressing creativity. As far as the prospect of further researchis concerned, it appears worthwhile to describe the theoretical structure«impishness» as a scale for measuring ludic competence in the questionnairethat we are developing, taking into consideration the meanings that reflect thereality of the linguistic consciousness of native speakers.