Linguocultural connotations of the lexeme “pine tree” in the Russian and Chinese languages

Abstract

The subject of this research is the lexeme “pine tree” with special linguocultural connotations in the mentality of Russians and Chinese. The authors reviews the historical-cultural associative meanings of the lexeme “pine tree” in the Russian and Chinese linguocultures through the analysis of phraseologisms, proverbs, myths, poems and literary works, as well as historical materials, customs and traditions of the two nations. The article employs descriptive, contextual, comparative methods, component analysis, and cognitive modeling. It is demonstrated that “pine tree” makes a positive impression in both linguocultures; its connotations coincide in the meanings of “perseverance” and “longevity”. Although unlike in Chinese linguocultural connotation, in the Russian language, pine tree also symbolizes negative emotions, such as “loneliness”, “sadness”. The novelty of this research lies in comparison of linguocultural connotations of the “pine tree” phytonomen via interdisciplinary study of the results of perception of this object, its concept and image by the Russian and Chinese native speakers. The accumulated materials can be used in teaching comparative lexicology of the Russian  and Chinese languages, teaching Russian language for Chinese students or Chinese language for Russian students, as well as in the development of lectures and textbooks in these disciplines. The conclusion is made that the detailed contrasting study of connotations of the characteristic phytonomen in two different linguocultures contributes to cross-cultural communication, broadens the perspective on value system of the native speakers of different languages, and allows the people learning a foreign language to avoid undesirable language and cultural conflicts in the context of cross-cultural communication.