Study of representation of language consciousness: ethnocognitive aspect

Abstract

The problem of linguistic consciousness is studied from various perspectives in fields such as philosophy, logic, psychology, cognitive science, and linguistics. In linguistics, the characterization of linguistic consciousness is revealed through the definition of the interrelation between language and thought, language and consciousness, language and worldview, as well as consciousness and speech activity. The article examines the representation of ethnocultural units in linguistic consciousness and provides an analysis from a psycholinguistic perspective. The representation of linguistic consciousness is the embodiment of a system of images in consciousness through units of various linguistic levels. Language functions not only as a system of signs
but also as a means of cognition, conveying the ideas and concepts formed in consciousness about the worldview. The study of representations of the linguistic consciousness of a particular people allows for determining the level of preservation of national identity and cultural code. In this regard, identifying the linguistic representations of the ethnocultural consciousness of Kazakh youth provides an opportunity to understand the ethnocognitive features lying in the deep layers of consciousness, describe the national essence, and also determine the value system reflected in the perception of the youth. In the course of the study, an empirical method — a free associative experiment — was applied to identify linguistic manifestations of the ethnocultural consciousness of Kazakh youth aged 17 to 35. The obtained results were analyzed; reactions to stimulus words such as korimdik, quyryq-bauyr, and qoshqar muiiz were examined. It was revealed that the core of the associative-verbal field of korimdik is “money”, quyryq-bauyr is “matchmaking”, and qoshqar muiiz is “ornament”. The recurring responses reflected manifestations of collective consciousness, but individual opinions, impressions, and memories related to personal life experience were also recorded. Despite the different linguistic forms of the responses — word, phrase, sentence — the content showed a unity of meaning. Ethnocultural marker concepts were found in the analyzed associative fields, which indicates the
presence of “ethnocultural knowledge” in the consciousness of the youth and the manifestation of national traits in linguistic consciousness. The associative-verbal field was defined as an important semantic structure that models the worldview and reflects the linguistic consciousness of Kazakh youth. In addition, factors influencing the formation of images in the linguistic consciousness of the experiment participants were analyzed: mass media, customs and traditions, the surrounding environment, school, works of art, and others. It was established that the family plays a primary role in shaping ideas related to spiritual and material culture. The participants also noted the influence of traditions, literature, and culture on their perception and understanding. As a result, it was confirmed that the accumulation of knowledge about the surrounding world and its transmission through linguistic signs occurs based on the interaction of consciousness with various factors.