Conflict-Prone Zones of Intercultural Interaction: Reflection in the Naive Consciousness of Native Russian Speakers

Intercultural conflict potential can be studied based on the naive consciousness of Russian speakers. The concept of migrant is socially significant for contemporary Russia. This associative experiment identifies negative connotations associated with the word migrant. These negative connotations lend the word an additional evaluative meaning that semantically contradicts the neutral meaning recorded in dictionaries. This new semantics should be recorded in dictionaries of social vocabulary. The resulting semantic gestalt of the associative field migrant makes it possible to identify conflict-generating linguistic units whose semantics can form an undesirable meaning of the migrant concept. Yu.N. Karaulov’s theory of semantic gestalt was used to systematize and structure the associative field of migrant, as well as to determine the ethnocultural specificity of the Russian naive consciousness and linguistic worldview. The associative experiment, which yielded 1,299 responses, revealed five semantic zones. Three of them indicate areas of potential conflict: social norms, adaptation, and labor and social benefits. The conflict potential of these zones is linked to the economic situation and differences in values, norms, and models of behavior and communication. These differences serve as a prerequisite for ethnic intolerance. However, responses showing acceptance and respect can serve as a starting point for further research into mutual ethnocultural adaptation. The dynamics of the associative field may supplement the lexicographic database and help assess the impact of migration policy on Russian society’s attitude toward labor migration.

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