Lexical-semantic field of "tea" in Russian and Chinese linguocultures (based on associative experiment data)

The subject of this study is the lexico-semantic field of "tea" / "茶" in Russian and Chinese linguistic cultures. The focus is on the linguistic representation of the concept of "tea" and its culturally determined features in the minds of speakers of the two languages. The study aims to identify the structure of this field, including its core and peripheral components, as well as to describe the specifics of the associative connections formed around this concept. Special attention is given to comparing the national-cultural features of tea perception, reflected in the linguistic consciousness of Russian and Chinese speakers, which allows for the consideration of "tea" as a significant element of the linguistic-cultural space of both traditions. Additionally, its role in communicative practices and cultural values systems is analyzed, as well as the degree of its integration into everyday linguistic consciousness. The methodological basis of the research was an associative experiment conducted among speakers of Russian and Chinese. The obtained associative reactions were subjected to quantitative and qualitative analysis, followed by a comparison of the results. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the identification and comparative description of the structure of the lexico-semantic field "tea" / "茶" based on the data from the associative experiment, which allows for a deeper understanding of the features of the linguistic consciousness of representatives of the two linguistic cultures. The analysis established that in the Russian linguistic consciousness, tea is predominantly associated with everyday communication practices, coziness, and joint leisure activities, whereas in Chinese linguistic culture, associations related to varieties of tea, methods of preparation, and ritualized aspects of tea tradition dominate. The identified differences indicate varying degrees of cultural symbolization of tea and its role in communicative scenarios. The obtained results can be used in the fields of comparative linguistics, linguistic cultural studies, as well as in intercultural communication practices.