The semantics of contrast as a way of reflection the traditional conception of «harmony» in political discourse of China in the English language

• Main Author: Loskutnikova Margarita A.
• Format: Article
• Language: deu
• Published: Publishing and Printing Center NOSU 2019-06-01
• Series: Актуальные проблемы филологии и педагогической лингвистики
• Subjects: semantics of oppositions; binarity; opposition; antinomy; discourse; cognitive level; mentality
• Online Access: http://philjournal.ru/upload/2019-2/82-88.pdf

The semantics of contrast is an essential part of Chinese policy rhetoric which is conveyed through the lens of Chinese values and culture rooted in historical and national memory of the people. The category of opposition reflects Chinese mentality indicating that oppositions in the Chinese language are culturally determined. At the present time, Chinese culture, world view and mentality which were formed in the remote ages, have great influence on the Chinese language. Speaking about the Chinese conception of «harmony», it is the matrix of the traditional political culture in China. However, the conception of «harmony» and also the category of binary opposition are verbalized in West culture differently: the English translation does not convey all the semantic field of meanings of the conception of «harmony» which are rooted in the authentical Chinese discourse. It is noticed the cultural lacuna in understanding of the main ideas and politico-civilizational intents between West and Chinese audience, what in general, reflect different stereotypes of thinking and world perception. It was discovered that language features specific for Chinese mentality are lost in the Chinese discourse in the English language, however English text still preserves Chinese connotations. In the result, the traditional conception of «harmony» is perceived differently by the representatives of different cultures, what is reflected with the help of linguistic means, mostly, on the lexical level