Features of gender representation in the linguistic consciousness of Kabardino-Circassian language speakers: data from a free associative experiment
https://doi.org/10.31143/2542-212X-2026-2-271-280
EDN: RSXDMQ
Abstract
This article presents the results of a free associative experiment aimed at identifying the features of the conceptualization of gender categories in the linguistic consciousness of Kabardino-Circassian language speakers. The research on the material of the Kabardino-Circassian language allows us to study the mechanism of categorization and conceptualization of fundamental social categories in the context of a specific linguistic cultural system. The analysis of responses to the stimulus words «цIыхубз» (woman) and «цIыхухъу» (man) allows for the reconstruction of the corresponding concepts' structure, the identification of their core and peripheral features, as well as the description of entrenched cultural ethnogender stereotypes. It is established that the analyzed gender concepts form an asymmetric binary opposition, where the intrafamilial and ethical-aesthetic sphere (дахэ, гъэса, анэ) is opposed to the sphere of social action and normative authority (лIыгъэ, къэру, адэ, пэж). This opposition verbalizes the axiological models of social role distribution entrenched in the Adyghe normative code « Адыгэ Хабзэ» («Adyghe Khabze»).
About the Author
Markhaba K. Borieva
Kabardino-Balkarian State University named after Kh.M. Berbekov
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Foreign Languages at the Social and Humanitarian Institute
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Review
For citations:
Borieva M.K. Features of gender representation in the linguistic consciousness of Kabardino-Circassian language speakers: data from a free associative experiment. Kavkazologiya. 2026;(2). (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31143/2542-212X-2026-2-271-280. EDN: RSXDMQ
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