THE EXPERIENCE OF USING ASSOCIATION EXPERIMENT DATA IN STUDYING A FRAGMENT OF THE LINGUISTIC PICTURE OF THE WORLD

Abstract

The purpose of this work is the construction of the associative field of the concepts TOP/BOTTOM as the objects of designing the liguistic picture of the world in the Chinese and Russian languages, and also the description of the associates included in the structure of the concepts. The research focuses on the semantics associates constructing the associative field of the concepts TOP/BOTTOM. The research is based on the method of introspection, comparison, and the method of psycholinguistic experiment. In the course of the research and of processing the data of the associative experiment the nuclear and peripheral areas of the studied concepts were identified, and also the attempt of cognitive interpretation of the material was made. The results were the basis for constructing the associative-verbal field of the concepts TOP / BOTTOM in Russian and Chinese linguistic pictures of the world. The research allows making a conclusion about the presence of certain mental models, characteristic of different cultures. The results can be used in the lexicographical practice to expand the definitions of associative dictionaries.

Keywords

• concept, fragment of the linguistic picture of the world, associative experiment, associative field, cognitive interpretation, reaction