Value representation of freedom in the speech of contemporary English-language and Russian-language aging politicians

Abstract

The goal of this work consists in determination of similarities and differences in value characteristics of freedom expressed in the speech of senior age politicians of the United States, United Kingdom and Russia. The subject of this research is the semantics of English and Russian aphorisms that represent value understanding of freedom in the speech of aging politicians of the listed countries. The speech of senior people was selected due to the lack of studies on the matter within comparative linguistics. Based on the material of aphorisms of the famous aging politicians of the United States, United Kingdom and Russia, the author defines the composition of topical units and groups that reflect value understanding of freedom in the English and Russian languages. The scientific novelty lies in the establishment of similarities and differences in value characteristics of freedom in the speech of English-language and Russian-language aging politicians. As a result of the conducted analysis, it was revealed that in the speech of English-language and Russian-language aging politicians, freedom is rarely the topic of discussion, they rather create the own aphorisms and at times utilize aphorisms from the corresponding English and Russian glossaries. Most often, aging politicians discuss the questions related to practical manifestation of freedom, as well as touch upon reflection of the value of freedom as a phenomenon or a process. Comparison of the composition of aphorisms in Russian and English languages demonstrates that they differ for the most part. The author concludes on the specificity of topical units. The acquired results can be applied in the university lectures on comparative lexicology of English and Russian languages.