Crystallisation of meaning as a technique for forming intercultural communicative competence within the real–virtual dichotomy

Abstract

The article explores the formation of intercultural communicative competence within the framework of the “real – virtual” dichotomy. The principal instrument of formation is the meaning crystallisation technique based on the material of media discourse as well as computer and art-specific types of discourse. The discourse is viewed as a complex structural and semantic formation, an axiological system that has a definite functional perspective; it represents itself as a domain for realisation of specific values or their facets depending on the situational context, as actualisation of interaction between textual structures and extra-linguistic factors. The discourse is based on the system of concepts relevant for intercultural communication. The concept is a totality of meanings representing an axiological category that is important within the space of a particular discourse. Language is social and pragmatic in its core; therefore, the substantive and semantic aspects of linguistic units are connected with socio-cultural factors, the ways of vision and comprehension of objects. The relevance of research in this sphere is determined by: 1) the growing interest in the problems of dialogue of cultures and intercultural communication; 2) the attention of researchers to the structural and semantic organisation of discursive spheres; 3) the specificity of communication types that have a significant impact on the social worldview; 4) the importance of identification and formation of axiological benchmarks in the society; 5) the features related with extension of the virtual interaction sphere. Crystallisation is principally a process in which interpretation is used to trace the semantic content of words that, in the context of thinking or art, becomes independent of the norm fixed by dictionary definitions. The study of crystallisation processes involves the analysis of concepts in terms of dialogue of cultures. Concepts are verbalised in accordance with the nature and uniqueness of material, spiritual and social culture, in close connection with linguistic and pragmatic components. The research results can be used in courses on foreign language teaching methodology, theory and practice of intercultural communication, discourse theory, stylistics, and interpretation of texts.