Associative image of the Homeland in the language picture of the world of Ukrainian youth

Abstract

Background. According to lexicographical sources, the semantics of the concept of the Homeland are dominated by the components ‘land’ (‘country’), ‘inheritance’, ‘father’, ‘family’, ‘native’, ‘property’, ‘origin’, ‘genesis’. They are sufficient, but they significantly limit the entire range of meanings, connotations, and associations that can be associated with the Homeland and do not capture the shades of meaning corresponding to the current socio-political and cultural situation.Contribution to the research field. The present study helps us to understand changes occurring in the meanings of words. In particular, the results show the dynamics in the perception of the Homeland, differences in the traditional lexicographic meaning and associative image.Purpose. The purpose of the article is to investigate the associative image of the Homeland concept, which was formed in the language picture of the world of Ukrainian youth.Methods. The written free associative experiment was conducted in April 2022. As a result, 1,009 questionnaires and 1,215 associations on the Homeland stimulus were collected. 253 types of reactions were identified.Results. The experiment showed that young Ukrainians most often associate Ukraine, mother, and home with the Homeland. 8% of responses are determined by the region of residence of the participants. Associations form thematic groups around the concepts of family, home, national symbols, values, and combat. A sense of belonging, ownership, kinship, love, warmth, pride, and happiness is important. Freedom and life become integral values. In the national picture of the world, the Homeland is visualized through the colours of the blue-yellow flag, embodied in Ukrainian nature.Discussion. The verbal image of the Homeland for a modern young Ukrainian has little to do with politics or ideology, instead emotional, imaginative and value components prevail. Despite the war, ideas about the Homeland did not become radicalized and did not acquire aggressive or militant features. On the contrary, the associative image of the Homeland reflects the perception of it as a place of love and warmth, a native home, a fatherland, and the highest value that must be protected.