kand. filol. n. N. Mongilyova
K.Baykanova
Kostanay State University, Kazakstan
SPECIFICITY OF STEREOTYPES ABOUT IDEAL FAMILY IN ENGLISH, KAZAKH AND
RUSSIAN CULTURE
The
features of communicative consciousness of
representatives of different ethnic groups became
the subject of multidimensional studies long time ago. They are in
line with the concept of the ethnically related worldview and
outlook of a man,
which are expressed in
a special system of values for every nation, social
stereotypes, and cognitive schemes. [1] The uniqueness, inherent
in each single ethnic group, becomes an undeniable component
of routine verbal behavior of its members, and
is of a particular interest to the study. Exactly verbal
behavior of different cultures allows to determine the
standards of culture,
to reveal the relation of
universal, ethnic and individual - in
verbal activities and content of the images of
the world of studied cultures’ carriers. In
this case, analyzing the speech activity of
representatives of ethnic groups living in
the same area, we can come to the conclusion about belongings of studied
facts to national and ethnic cultures.
Talking about
the difference between the national culture and ethnic
culture, it should be noted that ethnic
culture is primary, it becomes
the basis for the formation of the national culture. According
to A. Carmina,
ethnic culture preserves archaic
norms of life, that are already different in many respects from modern life norm
conditions, it is alien to any change and
innovation, while the national culture is
in motion, it lives in accordance with new creative activity. [2] Ethnic
culture tries to keep the differences between
local, loyal,
characteristic of certain groups of the
population characteristics of life, behavior, pronunciation, etc., and as for the national culture,
these differences are leveled in the
process of development.
This
research aims to study the stereotypes about ideal family in Kazakh, English and Russian culture.
The data studies used in the research were wedding wishes and toasts.
It
should be noted that the family
is one of the basic values of an individual, regardless of ethnicity.
The very nature of formation of a human
being comes from a society. So,
for example, a child’s genesis
of speech is totally dependent
upon stimulation of the nervous
system of speech and it is only possible within the participation
of other people. According Zheleznova, family, being a common to all mankind " universalia ", is the only possible form of social life, although extremely variable
it possesses national characteristics.
The norms of family and marital behavior , transmitted from generation to generation, like other institutional rules
become unconditional traditions, guiding lifestyle
and way of thinking of people in
a certain way. [3]
Wedding symbolizes
the beginning of family life, a new stage in life, a change of
status and the establishment of a level
of responsibility. Wedding toasts and wishes are part of the
concept "family". Concept in cognitive
science, cultural studies is considered to
be a structural formation in which researchers identify the
information content and interpretational field [4]. According Z.D.Popovoy and I.A.Sternina, the information content of the concept is the frame and its information is
relatively structured. Interpretative field, like
the air penetrates concept, filling
it, take the "place" between its structural components
[4]. This is the least structured part of
the concept; it can be described as an enumeration of
features. There is a number of zones in the given
informational part of the concept: assessment, encyclopedic, utilitarian, regulatory, socio-cultural and paremiological. Wedding toasts and wishes reveal features of
the regulatory and socio-cultural areas of the field of interpretive concepts "family." This
is because wedding wishes contain the information in
regards prescribing what to and
what not to do in the zone, "covered" with
the concept (regulatory zone), and information
reflecting the concepts of data communications with the life and culture
of the people (socio-cultural area). Wishes a happy future for a young
family become a form in which people explain stereotypes of the ideal family,
the future of a young family as it should be, what objects should be filled,
that is, the wishes are a kind of cultural scenarios, also constitute
interpretative field concept "family". Under the cultural script is
understood accepted and expected modals of behavior, adopted within a certain
society. [5]
In the course of investigation 87 Kazakh
wishes, 98
Russian toasts,
56 English congratulations were analyzed. In Kazakh culture in the wedding ceremony, there are congratulations and
"bota", which is a manual to newlyweds, usually
said by the one of the most senior and respected guests. In this
paper, these two types were analyzed together. Stereotypes about ideal Kazakh family can be the shown with the help of the following
cognitive features.
There
are a number of cognitive metaphorical models
that were found out in the course of analyzing wedding wishes:
Model:
life is a path. To wish happy life means to wish good luck: «Æîëäàðûң àøûқ áîëñûí!», «Á³ð³ң àé, á³ð³ң êүí áîëûï, àðòòàðûңíàí æұëäûçäàðûң åðå áåðñ³í!», «Ìàõàááàò àéäûíûíäàғû ñàïàðëàðûң ñәòò³, áàқûòòàðûң áàÿíäû áîëñûí». The model given has the following characteristics: the path of the
family is light, long, full of happiness, they should pass it together. Wedding
party is the begining of the new path that starts with tableful and good
wishes..
Model: peace and tranquility at home is symbolized by
the blue sky. «Àñïàíäàðûң àøûқ áîëñûí», «Àñïàíäàðûң àøûқ áîëûï», «Çîð äåíñàóëûқ, àøûқ àñïàí, ìөëä³ð ìàõàááàò!», «…àøûқ àñïàí». To wish “blue sky” is very popular in CIS
countries, such wishes refer to well-being and peace of the nation, living
without wars. At the same time this model complements the previous one “life is
a path” because the hosts of heaven and safe route played a significant role
in nomad lives.
Without
defining the other models, let’s show a number of culturological scenarios
specific to Kazakh wedding wishes.
Home
of a family is a “small home” - «Îòàóûң äà ê³ø³ã³ð³ì – Îòàíûң», «Homeland
begins with the family hearth» - «Îòàí îòáàñûíàí áàñòàëàäû».
For
nomads a transferable house – yurta is the basis of symbolic comparison: «Øàíûðàқòàðûí áè³ê áîëñûí, êåðåãåëåðûí êåí áîëñûí, áîñàғàëàðûí áåð³ê áîëñûí». A high dome
symbolizes a big house, broad walls – hospitality, a strong threshold - protection from enemies.
Kazakh
people position themselves as members of a big related groups, this fact is
reflected in wedding wishes addressed to all guests, all tribesmen: «Wish to
you happiness» - «Áàқûòòû áîëñûí!», «From the bottom of the heart wish happiness and
kindness to all guests, every family. Wish peace and prosperity to the nation”
- «Àë áàðøàëàðûңûçà ò³ëåéò³ì³í: Әð îòáàñûíà,øûíàéû êөң³ëìåí áàқûò-áåðåêå ò³ëåéì³í. Åë³ì³ç àìàí, æұðòûìûç òûíûø áîëñûí!», «Hope you will live
comfortable in your small home like you live in our multinational republic” - «Ñ³çäåð құðғàí æàñ ìåìëåêåòò³ң Îòàíûìûç Қàçàқñòàí ñåê³ëä³ áàé-қóàòòû, ³ø³ òàòó, ñûðòû қàó³ïñ³ç, өì³ð³ áåéá³ò, áàð ìүøåñ³ áàқûòòû áîëóûíà ò³ëåêòåñï³í». Wedding
wishes also pay attention to relatives and friends of the family to whom newly
married should become an example: «Wish your family be an example for your
parents, relatives and friends » - «Àòà-àíà, òóûñ-òóғàí, äîñ-æàðàíäàðғà ñûéëû, үëã³ë³ æàíұÿ àòàíûңäàð».
The
respect to each other (young and elder generation) takes a significant role in
the kazakh mentality: «Wish you to be respected by all the relatives » - «Åê³ æàққà äà ñûéëû áîëûңäàð!», «Respect your parents, be mutually respectful » -
«Àòà-àíàëàðûң ñûéëàï, åê³ æàққà á³ðäåé қàðàңäàð», «Respect parents from both sides”- «Àòà-àíàëàðûң ñûéëàï, åê³ æàққà á³ðäåé қàðàңäàð». wishes that refer to enemies and enviers: «Wish you
to have no enemies and enviers» - «Äұøïàíäàðûң қàøûқ áîëñûí!». Not only guests but also angels and the God are
wedding witnesses: «Wish angels hear our wishes and take them with favored»,
«Wish all the wishes to be heard by the God» - «Ò³ëåêòåð³ì³ç ïåð³øòåí³ң құëàғûíà øàëûíûï, қàáûë áîëñûí».
The
analysis of the wedding wishes allows describing the scenario of the ideal
Kazakh family: Family is the way on
which the couple must go together, it's a bright and long
road under the blue sky. Strong and
always hospitable home (yurt) is full of children, wildlife,
happiness, joy, eternal
love, the pledge that respect, understanding and acceptance, as well as health,
wealth, peace and warmth. Family Honeymoon is a part of a
large family, which includes parents, relatives, whom the young worship, and therefore higher power is
favorable to a
young family.
The
study of English wedding wishes has defined a number of the following cognitive
metaphorical models:
Model: The Wedding is the beginning of a new way. A wish of having a great travelling is expressed as a wish of a happy family life. The beginning of a new exciting period of life is expressed with the help of the following words: adventure, journey, way. Examples: We wish you a wonderful journey in your family life. I’m wishing you all the best on you journey. We are praying that God guides both of you in your new adventure. You're starting on a journey à new, exciting life.
Model: The
difficulties of family life is
the natural cataclysm. Family life is not easy, but the
British believe in a bright future,
and therefore adjust young couple positively to come over together this
difficult path: Through
the storms of life, may your love for one another be steadfast and
strong. I hope you hold each other close in windy days. If rainy days come into
your lives, remember you are strong
together and after the rain there will be a rainbow.
Model: Life is something that lights the way: Let your love light your way. Let your love for
one another always shine brightly. We
came to the conclusion that in English
culture, wedding is an exciting adventure, during
which there will be rain and wind, but
love will light and shine brightly to
the newly-weds.
Model: The family
is the comfort. Congratulations!
May these two always be companions, dearest friends, and
sweethearts. A marriage is a promise to
help, to give and to take, to share one life together, a love filled promise
means to keep loving forever. As you start your married life together hand in
hand, may all the things you’re hoping for turn out the way you’ve planned.
Thus,
the stereotypical view of the
ideal family in English culture are: the
family is an
exciting adventure,
during which will be the rain and the wind,
but love will light the way in
love and help to overcome the obstacles. The
key to family happiness in the family is respect
for the individual partner. The family is understood as a comfortable
coexistence of two persons, and this
implies the need to respect each other, care
for each other and understand your partner.
The
study of Russian toasts helped to reveal the
following cognitive models: Model: Wedding is a path with
difficulties: Íà
âàøåì
ïóòè
áóäåò
ìíîãî
ïðåãðàä, íî
âìåñòå
âû
ñóìååòå
ïðîéòè
÷åðåç
âñå
íåâçãîäû! A characteristic feature of Russian wishes is mentioning the
problems of family life: bad weather, disaster, adversity, and thunderstorms. Of course, these units are
used in the context of that the couple «will overcome, will
pass through difficulties" But
the number of reminders that family life
is hard, makes people understand this model implies that family
life is a joint trial. In Russian wishes different units often appear
with the semantics of advice, trust, listening to each other and yielding to
each other. "The main
condition of family life is the ability to negotiate with a partner, as if a family were an
eternal dispute between spouses. The combination of «äðóæíàÿ ñåìüÿ», «ïðîíåñèòå ëþáîâü è äðóæáó ñêâîçü ãîäà» fills
this model.
The
theme of physical love exists only in Russian toasts. Family
is a tenderness of spouses. Example: Õðàíèòå ÷óòêîñòü, íåæíîñòü, ëàñêó, Äóøåâíûé òðåïåò ïåðâûõ âñòðå÷. At the wishes of the young guests can maxim «ëîæèòüñÿ â îäíó ïîñòåëü», «ïðîâîäèòü íî÷ü» and etc. Faithful spouses wishes can be considered the continuation of this scenario «êîëüöî
âåðíîñòè», «âåðíûé
âîçëþáëåííûé», «ëþáèòü
îäíó
æåíó» etc. Such wishes would be considered as an invasion of a personal space in English culture and as
for Kazakh culture it would be indecent and improper.
Family in the Russian mentality is
a joint overcoming obstacles, the overall way of life. Disputes and quarrels are
also parts of family life, love overcomes everything.
Wishes regarding children deserve special attention. In English culture
there is a lack of such wishes. In Russian toasts guests wish simply «ïóñòü
áóäóò
ó
âàñ
äåòè», sometimes specify «ñûí
è
äî÷ü» or «ñûíêè-áîãàòûðè è äî÷åðè-êðàñàâèöû»." In Kazakh wishes there
should be a house full of many children.
References:
1 Leontiev A. Fundamentals of
psycholinguistics. Moscow, 1999.
2 Carmine A. On the Cultural -
complex vast science. http://www.artistico.ru/books/karmin-s/kulturologiya-kompleksnay.html
3Zheleznova Y. Cognitive and
Lingvocultural study the concept "family." The Dissertation of the
candidate of philological sciences. Izhevsk, 2009
4 Popova ZD, Sternin IA Cognitive
linguistics [Text] / ZD Popov, I. Sternin / / - Moscow: AST, East-West, 2007. -
315 c.
5 James M. Dzhongvard D. Born to
win. Transactional analysis geshtaltuprazhneniyami. / Common. Ed. and
afterword. LA. Peter. [Text] / James M. Dzhongvard D. - M., 1993. - 336.