Gender Psychological Characteristics in Phraseology: Dynamics of Meanings in the Newspaper Corpus

Abstract

Purpose of research is to describe the features of the functioning of phraseological phrases in media texts containing a gender-marked component and belonging to a group of psychological characteristics, in order to accumulate data on the specifics of operating with phraseological meaning and its development in the speech of modern native speakers of the Russian language.Methods. To achieve this goal, the methods of observation of linguistic material, continuous sampling, lexico-graphic, lexico-semantic and contextual analysis, classification, and systematization of data were used.Results of the analysis indicate that the phraseological resources of the language are more often used by the authors of media texts to nominate and positively evaluate the volitional qualities of men and women, as well as scholarship and high moral qualities of men; phraseological designations of indecision and unpreparedness for the practical life of women and lack of independence and greed of men bear a negative connotation. At the same time, the perception of the stereotype of bravery and dedication of a Russian woman as a positive necessary quality is changing: entering burning huts is no longer tempting.Conclusion. The popularity of the most frequent phraseology "iron lady" is due to its media etymology and interest in the person of Margaret Thatcher, whose style of behavior gives rise to associations among the authors of media texts with modern women politicians and prominent representatives of other fields of activity. The trends in the functioning of the units of the analyzed group in the media language include the actualization of the meanings of individual components of phraseological turnover, the structural and meaningful transformation of combinations, the development of meanings up to the antonymous, the creation of a language game and anecdote. Examples of changes in the gender attribution of phraseology are noted.