Inna. A. Merkulova

Doctor of Sciences (Philology), Associate Professor of the Theoretical and Applied Linguistics Department

Voronezh State University

(Voronezh, Russia)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2024-2-106-116

Abstract. The article deals with the problem of identifying the Jew ethnic stereotype on the basis of the Russian National Corpus data. The object of the study is phrases with the relative adjective ‘Jewish’ and the comparative phrase ‘like (as if) a Jew’, where the basis of comparison can be an adjective or a verb. The purpose of the study is to analyze attributive combinations and comparative phrases, as the least studied methods, and also to identify the worldview presented in the Russian National Corpus. First, the author analyses the combinations of the adjectives yevreyskiy and zhidovskiy (both words mean Jewish), establishes the main semantic classes of nouns combining with these adjectives, and calculates the integrative weight of the combinations. According to the Russian National Corpus, stereotypical traits of a Jew are associated primarily with the character and behavior of representatives of this ethnic community, as well as with their typical way of life associated with communities and associations. The perception of Jews by native speakers of Russian is ambivalent according to the Russian National Corpus data. This is due to the clear opposition of two nominations - yevrey and zhid. Examples show that the most important characteristics of a yevrey are talent, secrecy, vitality, a certain fidgetiness and nervousness, a desire to argue, aversion to hard physical labour, wealth, and intelligence. The ability to bargain and yet stinginess is noted regularly when combined with zhid. The author notes that there are no attributes that unite ayevrey and zhid. Representations of Jewish appearance (skin colour, eyes, hair, height, etc.) are limited only by the typification of swarthy skin colour and nose size. The analysis of the linguistic markers identified by the author indicates the absence of religious features among the stereotypical characteristics.
Keywords: linguistic expertise, extremism, extremist materials, controversial text, linguistic labeling.

Full text of the article (PDF)

For citation: Merkulova, IA 2024, ‘Mentions of Jewish and Jews in the Russian National Corpus’, Tula Scientific Bulletin. History. Linguistics, issue 2 (18), pp. 106–116, http://doi.org/10.22405/2712-8407-2024-2-106-116 (in Russ.)

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