“The Arctic constant” in the linguistic consciousness of modern student youth

Abstract

Introduction. Currently, there is an unprecedented increase in interest in the Arctic issues in various fields. The analysis of scientific literature testifies to the actualization of the study the phenomenon of a region taken as a fragment of the semiosphere and the formation of Arctic regionology. The research is devoted to representing the integral image of the Arctic from the interdisciplinary perspective, as well as in the context of value-semantic narratives in science and education. The purposes of this study are to present the key features of semiotics of the circumpolar region, and to reveal its cultural-symbolic codes anchored in the linguistic consciousness of student youth in contemporary Russia. Materials and methods. The main research method used was the free associative experiment involving students of Saint Petersburg Mining University. The study took place in several stages, starting in 2021. It was attended by 400 students of different faculties, mainly aged 18 to 20 years old. The following methods were also used: enquiry-conversation, systematic pedagogical observations, theoretical analysis of scientific literature. Results. The respondents gave 2875 responses to the stimulus “the Arctic” in the course of the associative experiment. The obtained associates were distributed into 5 thematic groups, which formed the “Arctic” conceptual field. The analysis of its the core zone, the near core zone and the periphery obtained shows prevalence of emotional-sensual reactions and estimations of the severe Arctic space, which is also perceived as a place richest in natural resources, with unique conditions for all kinds of research activity. Of all the components in the framework of the “Arctic” conceptual field, the ethno-cultural and geopolitical ones, together with any spiritual-ideological connotations related, are underrepresented. The research was also verified by the free interview of students in the form of a conversation. Conclusions. The data obtained confirmed the hypothesis that the heroic narrative formed in the Soviet era is no longer the dominant category in interpreting the conceptosphere of the Arctic and the North. However, the symbolic value of the Arctic and the polar feat may become one of priority national ideas in modern Russia. The analysis of the ideological orientations of students regarding the “Arctic” conceptual field is the most important pedagogical and educational problem. It is necessary to revive educational traditions on the formation of “the Arctic consciousness” among the younger generation and develop a unified socio-humanitarian paradigm of knowledge about this unique region of the Earth.