THE POLYNOMIAL NATURE OF THE SOCIOLINGUISTIC-CULTURAL TYPE «STUDENT»

The study hereby investigates the nuisance of the sociolinguisticcultural character «student». The purpose of the research is to
identify and describe the nominative space of the concept
«student», which is actualized in the linguistic consciousness of
the very representatives within a particular society. Therefore, the
main subjects to be analyzed are the nominal characteristics of a
proper representative of modern society. Based on lexicographic
sources, educational, information and discourses, as well as
survey results, conducted among 1-4-year students of different
specialties of four higher educational institutions in Astana,
relevant conclusions were made about the nominative density
(V.I. Karasik’s term). Students being the constituents of a
particular students’ society construct the image we are
considering to be a sociolinguistic classification of types,
«recognized by the specific characteristics of verbal and nonverbal behavior and derived by valuable orientation» (Karasik
V.I., 2002: 18). Developing the theory of linguocultural types
(V.I. Karasik, O.A. Dmitrieva, O.V. Lutovinova, I.A. Murzinova,
E.A. Yarmakhova, L.P. Seliverstova, etc.), we consider the
student’s linguistic personality in terms of typology (Karasik V.I.,
Dmitrievа O.A., 2005: 8). When modeling a linguocultural
typology as a concept of a classified person, the following
components are taken into account: conceptual, figurative and
value (according to V.I. Karasik). Describing the conceptual
nature of the type, the nomination of the «student» concept was
revealed due to historical, political, socio-cultural factors that lost
relevance, and vice versa. The current reforms in the education
system led to the emergence of new word forms in the
nominative field of the type «student». From the point of the
definitional characteristics, the student is represented as a high
school student, college student (colloquial), Cadet, lawyer
student, orientalist, naturalist, white-backed, etc. At present time,
the following nominations of a sociolinguistic-cultural type
«student» with a specific set of constitutive and differential
features can be found in various genres of academic, youth
(student) discourses. Depending on the relevant feature taken as
the basis for designation, students are distinguished: 1) according
to the form of education: full-time student – part-time student –
evening student – diary; 2) according to the system of payment
for educational services and free education: grantnik (grantovik)
– paysite – kvotnik – state employees – kreditnik; 3) a report on
academic performance: a debtor, an intern, an excellent student;
4) according to the intellectual activity: a nerdy student (botan) –
wise; 5) according to the educational programs («Bolashak»):
student-bolashakovets/bolashaker; 6) according to the faculty or
specialization: the most common names are Pravovik (lawyer),
Oriental, Naturalist, Inyazovets, Medic; 7) according to the
wealth and cultural nuances: a major student (wealthy), a hipster
student – representatives of golden youth; 8) according to years of
study: freshman (pervash); sophomore (second); third year
student; fourth-year (senior)/graduate. In the mass information
discourse, the author’s vision of the classification of the student
society is widespread, for example, pseudoscientific
intelligentsia, headmen / (nerd) zadroty / dreamers, nihilists /
gold, social activists / youths / activists, talented and creative
youth (based on the site «yvision.kz»). With the development of
innovative technologies and the possibility of virtual education,
the distance learning is gaining momentum, and it is possible that
such students will be called «distant (part time) students». The
special shape of the category of distance learning student does not
occur in a recognized Bachelor educational program: Bachelor
student, undergraduate student. The nomination «part-time» and
the type of part-time student will lose its image over time in their
consciousness, since in 2019 part-time education is no longer
provided. It should be noted that as part of the implementation of
multilingual education in Kazakhstani higher educational
institutions, a new form of organization of the educational
process has emerged – multilingual groups. In the student slang,
the multilingual tokens are already functioning, as a contraction
of the combination «Multilingual group» and «multilingual» – the
one who studies in this group. As for the survey, analysis of the
results showed the following: all 349 students familiar «studentnerd/nerdy», «full-time students», «external student», «studentpaysite», «student-grantovik/grantnik», «vuzovets», «Graduate»,
«graduate student», «major student/wealthy». Furthermore, other
options were proposed by the students, such names as «studentbalmuzdak» (translated from Kazakh means «ice cream» or a
freshman) should be noted, which indicates the national
component and belonging to a certain linguistic culture; student –
ZhasOtanovets («Zhas Otan» – the youth wing of the political
party «Nur Otan»), here is the political involvement of the
respondents; student-freshman, a second-year; student-bully,
student-YPC (the first part is the abbreviation of the Youth Policy
Committee); student-ISS (focus on the specialty «Information
Security System»; names with a negative shade – student-rat,
strauss (apparently, from the word «monitor»). Thus, the
polynominative sociolinguistic cultural type «student» suggests a
special approach to modeling this image. Embodying the
educational values, a particular type forms the general
nomination «student» and at the same time, possessing a certain
set of constitutive features, considered a prominent representative
of modern society and its values.
Key words: sociolinguistic-cultural type, nomination, nominative
density, definition