The linguistic-cultural concept YANKEE in the English-language world-picture

Abstract

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the nominative, connotative and image constituents of the concept YANKEE in the English-language world-picture and to the determination of discrepancies in the perception of this concept in the American and British linguistic culture. The bonds between the concepts YANKEE and NORTH have also been examined and an important role of the former in the conceptualization of the American North has been proved. The purpose of this study is to determine the characteristics of the perception of the northern US Territories in the English-speaking linguistic-culture by analyzing the conceptualization of specific American realia connected with these territories. One of such realia in particular is a resident of the northern states (yankee). The object of the present study is the concept YANKEE, and its reflection in the English- language world -picture. The materials for the research are the text extracts containing the lexemes-verbalizators of the concept YANKEE, taken from English-language works belonging to the belles-lettres and publicist functional styles and lexicographical sources (etymological, explanatory and encyclopedic dictionaries of the English language). There are several theories connected with the etymology of the lexeme yankee. In most etymological dictionaries the most widespread theory is the one according to which, the lexeme was first used by Danish settlers in New Amsterdam to name the English colonists of Connecticut (northern territories of the USA). The source of the lexeme is considered a distorted Danish Janke literally "Little John" diminutive of traditional and widespread English name John (Jack). At the end of the analysis it should be noted that the phenomenon YANKEE in the English-language world-picture is reasonable to consider a linguistic-cultural concept. The presence of the connotative constituent, i.e. a certain attitude of the English-speaking community to the phenomenon, inherent associations in the mind of the speaker to the given concept (appearance, education, activity, etc.) as well as a broad representation of the verbalized elements of this concept in English literary discourse allow us to consider the concept YANKEE as a part of the culture realized in the language.

Keywords

• концепт
• лінгвокультура
• англомовна картина світу