Reflection of cross-cultural conflicts in perception of the Yakut literary works by the foreign students

Abstract

The article focuses on the perception of Yakut literary texts by students – representatives of different nations and countries. The authors have chosen three classical works of famous Yakut writers as subjects of the research - V.S. Yakovlev-Dalan “Glukhoi Viluy / Tulaaiakh ogho” (‘The Remote Viluy River”), a drama of A.I. Sofronov-Alampa «Taptal» («Любовь»)”Love” and a story of N.G. Zolotarev (Nikolay Yakutskiy) «Kemusteekh yuryuie» («Золотой ручей») ”Golden Stream”. It is stated that acquaintance with other cultures through literary works can be one of the most effective ways of intercultural communication as it helps better understanding of cultural diversities. Such cultural conflicts as murder (killing a kin), women’s rights and the loss of historical lands of the local people with the coming of the representatives of other cultures are described and analyzed. The research predictably revealed the differences in the perception of the respondents as their answers have been discussable and variable, especially among the representatives of the eastern and the western worlds though their attitude in common are the same for all human beings. Those concepts which were culturally arguable provoked serious thought process. As a result of the research it can be stated that cross-cultural conflicts can have not only a destructive function but also a constructive one as well.