Ebrejs vai žīds? Čigāns vai roms?

Abstract

The aim of the article is to reflect the semantics of the names of different nationalities in the perception of modern society. For this purpose, the article’s author created a survey and asked users of various social networks (Twitter.com, Facebook.com, Draugiem.lv) to participate from February 1st to 9th, 2022. The questionnaire was filled by 419 respondents, of whom 305 were women, and 114 were men. The respondents were Latvians living in Latvia or abroad. The respondents had to evaluate 15 different concepts to assess whether the connotation (a feeling or idea that is suggested by a particular word, although it need not be a part of the word’s meaning, or something suggested by an object or situation) of their messages was positive, neutral, negative or difficult to determine. The article looks at 8 of the 15 presented concepts: žīds, ebrejs, nēģeris, melnādainais, čigāns, roms, krievs, krievvalodīgais. The object of research is the data obtained in the questionnaire. The method of data analysis used is quantitative content analysis. Although nowadays, Latvian linguists have indicated that the term nēģeris does not have a negative connotation, half of the respondents believe that this term has a negative message. Even though the term žīds has not had a negative connotation in the past, 71 % of respondents indicated that it has a negative connotation.