Configuration as a Procedure of Intracultural Knowledge Transfer (Exemplified by the Dynamics of the Concept of Human in the Russian Linguistic Worldview)

Abstract

Continuous development of technologies and globalization result in transfer of knowledge: knowledge about the world is transmitted between bearers of different linguocultures, as well as from generation to generation within one linguoculture. In the course of various transfer procedures, knowledge undergoes structural and qualitative changes. The nomenclature of possible transfer procedures and the essence of some procedures vary for different types of transfer. Configuration is one of the main procedures for knowledge transfer. Its implementation can be observed through structural changes in the units of knowledge transfer, such as works of art, terms, loanwords, etc. If a concept is considered as such a unit, configuration can be traced in the dynamics of the macrostructure, categorical structure and field description of the concept. Thus, the analysis of linguistic units representing a concept allows us to identify changes occurring in the minds of linguoculture-bearers over time. This paper aimed to study configuration as one of the main procedures of intracultural transfer of knowledge within the Russian worldview, with regard to everyday sphere of knowledge. The material of the research included representations of the concept of human in journalistic publications. The study is based on a complex methodology, including descriptive, comparative historical, and comparative methods, as well as statistical analysis and conceptual analysis. The research allowed us to identify the implementation of the configuration procedure in the course of knowledge transfer in the everyday sphere of knowledge, as well as to confirm its non-identity for the everyday and scientific spheres of knowledge by comparing our results with the data obtained earlier by other researchers. The study contributes to solving the problem of linguocultural transfer of knowledge and can be used in accomplishing many linguocognitive tasks.