Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study presents a comprehensive cross-cultural comparative analysis of power conceptualisation in English and Ukrainian linguistic cultures through phraseological examination.The research investigates how abstract power concepts are linguistically encoded, revealing both universal cognitive patterns and significant culture-specific variations in authority representation across these distinct linguistic traditions.The investigation employs multiple theoretical frameworks, including Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Cultural Dimensions Theory, and semantic field analysis, to examine 258 phraseological units containing power-related concepts (131 English, 127 Ukrainian).The methodology combines lexicographic analysis with cultural-linguistic investigation to identify cross-cultural patterns in power conceptualisation, evaluative attitudes, and metaphorical structuring.Key findings reveal striking parallels alongside significant divergences between the two linguistic cultures.Both demonstrate predominantly negative attitudes toward power concepts (65-66%), suggesting universal human scepticism toward authority structures.However, substantial differences emerge in specific evaluative patterns: Ukrainian expressions exhibit stronger moral-ethical emphasis and remarkably more positive royal power associations (50% positive evaluations compared to 17% in English), while English demonstrates broader technical-legal applications and pronounced individual capability focus.The research identifies universal metaphorical patterns, including POWER IS CONTROL, POWER IS FORCE, POWER IS POSSESSION, and POWER IS VER-TICAL SPACE, while revealing culture-specific metaphorical orientations: Ukrainian POWER IS RESPONSIBIL-ITY versus English POWER IS CAPABILITY.These patterns reflect distinct historical trajectories and cultural values, with Ukrainian culture maintaining receptivity to hierarchical authority when exercised responsibly, while English culture demonstrates deep-seated scepticism rooted in constitutional monarchy evolution and democratic traditions.The findings contribute significantly to understanding how linguistic structures influence political cognition and cultural authority attitudes.Ukrainian participants demonstrate higher power distance acceptance coupled with moral-ethical expectations, while English responses reflect lower power distance preferences with individual agency emphasis.The study provides crucial insights into democratic processes, authority legitimacy, and intercultural communication, demonstrating that while human experiences with power share universal characteristics, linguistic and cultural frameworks fundamentally shape conceptualisation patterns, evaluative attitudes, and behavioural expectations regarding power structures in contemporary globalised contexts.
Source: Lviv Philological Journal
Author: A. S. Shapoval
Language: English
Topic: Language and Culture
Subfield: Linguistics and Language
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412923722