The reflection of space in the language of a multilingual society (on the example of the Khatango-Anabarsky district)

Abstract

This article examines the universal category of space and its representation in the multicultural and multilingual Khatango-Anabarsky cultural landscape. The Dolgan language in Khatangsky and Anabarsky multilingual societies develops evenly and has specifics of functionality. The Russian language that is the state language in the Russian Federation, along with the Yakut language that is cognate to the Dolgan language and has greater communicative capacity in the territory of Yakutia,  play considerable role in these processes. The description of the Dolgan concept of space is carried out by the following scheme: 1) semantic analysis of the lexis that reflects space and is notionally named spatial; 2) spatial analysis of the regional toponymy and ethno-economic territorial system of the Dolgan people; 3) psycholinguistic analysis of content of the concept. The novelty of this research lies in description of the peculiarities of linguistic consciousness of the bilinguals on the example of the Dolgan concept of space, which is viewed alongside the regional toponymy and ethno-economic territorial system of the Dolgan people. Space is the subject of research in various scientific disciplines. This article reviews its psycho-linguoculturological aspect. In accordance with the anthropocentric research model, the study explores the correlation between the language, culture and mentality, and complies with the definition of the concept as a certain "bundle of culture within human mind” [Stepanov, 2001, p.43]. Thus, the special lexis, besides the generally accepted binary oppositions, should include the geographical terms with landscape peculiarities, which in the authors’ opinion, can be the reflection of space.