“Threats and challenges”: English-Russian interaction today
2005; Wiley; Volume: 24; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1111/j.0883-2919.2005.00431.x
ISSN1467-971X
Autores Tópico(s)Digital Communication and Language
ResumoWorld EnglishesVolume 24, Issue 4 p. 477-485 "Threats and challenges": English–Russian interaction today Alexandra A. Rivlina, Alexandra A. Rivlina English Philology Department, Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, 4, Ostrovskogo 4, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, 675006. E-mail: rivlina@mail.ruSearch for more papers by this author Alexandra A. Rivlina, Alexandra A. Rivlina English Philology Department, Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University, 4, Ostrovskogo 4, Blagoveshchensk, Russia, 675006. E-mail: rivlina@mail.ruSearch for more papers by this author First published: 22 November 2005 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0883-2919.2005.00431.xCitations: 5AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract Abstract: Language contacts have been extensively studied linguistically and sociolinguistically. This paper argues that cross-cultural analysis of language transfer can also prove useful in contact linguistics. One of the latest borrowings from English into Russian, the semantic calque vyzov vyzovy('challenge/challenges') used often in the clichéugrozy i vyzovy('threats and challenges'), makes certain shifts in the Russian world view traceable. Challenge, a key word in English, is untranslatable into Russian and the trite Russian translation equivalent for challenge–problema('problem') reveals important differences between the two cultures: the Anglophone (especially, American) linguaculture, whose dominant values are individual success and activity, competitiveness, positive thinking, sense of adventure, etc., perceives difficulties as "stimuli" and conceptualizes them in terms of challenges; contrary to this, the Russian linguaculture, which is, if compared with the Western cultures, "being-oriented,""relationship-oriented,""passive" and "pessimistic," encourages the discussion of difficulties in terms of problems. The borrowing of the concept challenge by extending the meaning of vyzov registers a shift of the Russian value system in the direction of increased agentivity, assertiveness, positivism, competitiveness, etc. Such borrowings are "challenges" rather than "threats" to the Russian language and culture and they call for a more in-depth linguacultural analysis of English–Russian interactions. Citing Literature Volume24, Issue4November 2005Pages 477-485 RelatedInformation
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