engleski

Language in the Process of Social Construction of Reality

The aim of the paper is to provide a theoretical and analytical framework for the understanding of the social construction of stereotypes as linguistics forms, how they work and how they are conceived by a chosen group of informants. The analysis will be held on various levels – the individual as well as social/cultural level. This approach has emphasized relevance of stereotyping as cognitive tools to satisfy basic needs for environmental understanding and for self promotion and justification of the existing situation. Special emphasis will be given to ethnic and gender stereotypes. Besides theoretical approach, the paper will be founded on both, qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The interdisciplinary approach and the use of various methodologies will enable us to provide an overall picture of the issues addressed. The authors conclude that the study of ways in which people use language in different contexts allows us a wealth of information about the ways in which language works, about social relationships in the community, and the ways in which people project aspects of social identity.

language, linguistics forms, prejudices, stereotypes, social construction

This publication is an effect of the long-term research cooperation between three universities: Horlivka Institute for Foreign Languages, Donbas State Pedagogical University, Ukraine, A. F. M. Krakow University, Poland and Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Slovenia.