Associative Connections of Toponyms in the Linguistic Consciousness of Russian and Chinese Speakers

This study investigates the associative connections of toponyms in the linguistic consciousness of Russian and Chinese speakers. Geographical names are examined as culturally marked units that reflect specific cognitive and ethnocultural models of spatial perception. The author analyzes the nature of associative reactions to toponyms as manifestations of collective stereotypes, media influence, and sociocultural experience. Based on a free associative experiment, the research aims to identify linguocultural differences in interpreting the same geographical names. Particular attention is paid to how concepts of “self” and “other” spaces are shaped through toponymic imagery and how these affect intercultural communication. The methodology involves a free associative experiment, which reveals cognitive and cultural patterns in the perception of toponyms. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of responses from Russian-speaking and Chinese-speaking informants allows for an effective intercultural comparison of linguistic worldviews. The scientific novelty lies in the comparative analysis of associative reactions to an identical set of culturally significant toponyms. The findings show that Russian participants more often produce stereotypical and politico-administrative associations, while Chinese participants prefer culturally historical and visually scenic imagery. Overlapping associations indicate potential zones of intercultural understanding. The results underscore the relevance of toponymic associations for studying linguistic consciousness and their potential in fostering intercultural competence, language education, and media discourse analysis. This study contributes to the theoretical development of cognitive linguistics and offers promising directions for further research into cultural worldviews.

Associative reactions, Linguistic consciousness, Linguocultural features, Toponymic semantics, Cognitive linguistics, Intercultural communication, National stereotypes, Media discourse, Cultural memory, Free association experiment