Article

Name: The structure of the conceptual opposition LIGHT – DARKNESS in the Russian language worldview according to the association experiment (against the backdrop of Chinese opposition 光明 and 黑暗)

Authors: Song Yifei, Maria S. Berendeeva

Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

The paper focuses on a structural and substantive examination of the conceptual opposition between LIGHT and DARKNESS as it pertains to the Russian worldview. The research employed the results of a chain association experiment, which included 260 native Russian and Chinese speakers. Experimental data were classified according to the denoted concepts of LIGHT and DARKNESS. The study found that the conceptual opposition of LIGHT – DARK-NESS, as depicted linguistically, can be modeled as a scalar antonymic complex. In this model, LIGHT functions as a more neutral pole, with constituent features organized into antonymic pairs such as cold – warm and white – black. A comparison of the results obtained with the data from the “Russian Associative Dictionary” highlights the potential dynamics in the structure of the opposition. The experimental results suggest an increase in the ambivalence surrounding the concepts of LIGHT and DARKNESS, leading to a blurring of the contrast between these opposing ideas. The conclusion reached is that the universal characteristic of this opposition is its relationship to the GOOD – BAD dichotomy. However, this correlation remains unclear and lacks contrast within the Russian cultural framework, due to the ambivalent emotional and evaluative nature of both poles (LIGHT and DARKNESS). Consequently, the overarching organizational model of conceptual opposition exhibits universality, yet the degree of ideational contrast and bipolar opposition is modulated by national-specific factors.

Keywords: concept, linguistic opposition, conceptual opposition, binary concepts, cultural linguistics, linguoconceptology

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