Abstract:
In the sphere of intercultural or international communication it is important to take into account stereotypes of nations in order to create communicative act properly. Stereotypes are changeable, so knowledge about them will allow to influence on the change of their structural content. We need to find out 1) what Russians in general and Russian priests in particular mean by this sphere; 2) if the system of notions Alien Country is social stereotype. The system of notions and values concerning other countries presented by common Russians and Russian priests differ little, essential difference these spheres reveal only by feature Orthodox / Non-Orthodox, which is characteristic for notion sphere of priests and passion for everything foreign, which is characteristic for common Russians. Europe, America, Finland, Switzerland, Australia, France, Macedonia, China, Japan, Turkey, Ukraine, Serbia and Greece belong to the concept sphere “Alien country”. The concept sphere “Alien country” comprises centre and outlying area, which differ in degree of negative value. The centre is characterized by the largest degree of negative value, it is represented by America; the outlying area is characterized by the least degree of negative value; it is represented by Serbia and Greece. The last one is valued rather neutrally or positively. Europe, Finland, Switzerland, Australia, France, Macedonia, China, Japan, Turkey and Ukraine are placed further from the centre. Among them Europe is marked the most negatively. Simultaneously semantic and valuational opposition is characteristic feature for America – Russia, Europe – Russia, Switzerland – Russia, Finland – Russia, Macedonia – Russia. Ukraine is not opposed to Russia due to its “non-state status” according to Russians and it couldn’t be object of opposition or comparison. China, Japan and Turkey are marked be lexeme “other”, which doesn’t reveal connotation “hostility” and testifies the structuring the opposition by other valuational criteria: not opposition, but comparison. Serbia and Greece are on the crossroad of the notion sphere “Own/ Alien”, partly transferring in the sphere “Own” due to religious feature – orthodox. Characteristics and valuations, which Russian priests and common Russians give other countries, are mostly marked by emotional, but not logical criteria. This fact reveals that our thoughts about alien countries form social stereotype.
