Лингвокультурология | Филологический аспект №11 (91) Ноябрь 2022

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Дата публикации 22.11.2022

Cемейный уклад через призму английской языковой картины мира

Огородникова Лидия Александровна
кандидат филологических наук, доцент кафедры русской и зарубежной филологии, культурологии и методики их преподавания, Ишимский педагогический институт им. П. П. Ершова (филиал) ФГАОУ ВО «Тюменский государственный университет», РФ, г. Ишим, lidiao@mail.ru
Рындина Юлия Валерьевна
кандидат педагогических наук, доцент кафедры русской и зарубежной филологии, культурологии и методики их преподавания, Ишимский педагогический институт им. П. П. Ершова (филиал) ФГАОУ ВО «Тюменский государственный университет», РФ, г. Ишим, y.v.ryndina@utmn.ru

The way of family life through the prism of the English language picture of the world

Ogorodnikova L.A
Ph. D. (Philology) Associate Professor of the Department of Russian and foreign Philology, cultural studies and methods of teaching, P. P. Yershov Ishim Pedagogical Institute, branch of Tyumen State University, Ph. D. (Pedagogics)
Ryndina Yu.V.
Associate Professor of the Department of Russian and foreign Philology, cultural studies and methods of teaching, P. P. Yershov Ishim Pedagogical Institute, branch of Tyumen State University

Abstract: This article is devoted to the study of the traditional way of the family life as a phenomenon of British culture. A cultural model of a traditional English family is presented. It is based on intra-family relations and parental attitude to their children. It includes bringing up children, a common life and family leisure activities. In addition, this model is responsible for relationships with neighbors and ensures the protection of the family from alien values and norms. The author describes the culture of marital relations in British society and points out the role of women in the development of family relations. The characteristic features of the way of the family life are highlighted: restraint, politeness, conservatism, responsibility to each other, the minimum manifestation of any feelings. The main research methods were analytical (analysis of publicistic and fiction literature on the research topic), contextual analysis, continuous sampling method. The data obtained make it possible to reveal the national originality of the traditional way of life of the English family, which has developed under the influence of national traditions, customs, values, norms, and characteristics of society.
Keywords: English language picture of the world, way of family life, family traditions, British culture, British national character

Правильная ссылка на статью
Огородникова Л.А., Рындина Ю.В. The way of family life through the prism of the English language picture of the world // Филологический аспект: международный научно-практический журнал. 2022. № 11 (91). Режим доступа: https://scipress.ru/philology/articles/the-way-of-family-life-through-the-prism-of-the-english-language-picture-of-the-world.html (Дата обращения: 22.11.2022)

It is known that the language is a source of information about the culture, psychology, and worldview of the people. Through the prism of language, it is possible to analyse the features of the national character, stereotypes of behaviour, ethics, and morals of a particular people.

This study describes the traditional way of the family in England and its reflection on the English language world picture.

For each culture, the family is of real value, since it develops family traditions, transfers the system of cultural values from elderly people to younger people, and forms an attitude towards the three main values of any culture: truth, goodness and beauty.

George Santayana wrote noting the undoubted importance of the family in the development of the child's personality: “The family is one of nature's masterpieces.”

The English family has its own mental characteristics. So, in England it is customary to keep private life a secret, to detach it from the outside world and prying eyes.

The relationship between husband and wife in England is rather restrained: they rarely interfere in each other's business. Behind the restrained smile of the spouses, a feeling of affection, shame, resentment, or anger can be hidden. Noisy clarifications of relationships are not inherent in the English family. It allows the spouses to prevent any quarrels, maintain peace and trust in the family.

 According to A. G. Bent, there is a whole philosophy based on the English character. When she talks about it, she has in mind the tendency of the British to sharply delimit their official affairs and civic duties from their home activities, when the British is, in the full sense of the word, a “private person” and their behaviour, whether good or bad, is not influenced by public opinion” [1, p. 13]. So, crossing the threshold of his house, they forget about everyday worries, are freed from extraneous influence and opinion. Only their own house will be associated with own fortress, where “they think, pray, love they family” [2]. In “Travel Pictures” by H. Heine  it is written: “No one is so free at home as an Englishman” [8, p. 363].

For centuries, a family structure has been hierarchically built in England, where a woman is given a special role as a keeper of the hearth (“One's (the) better half”, “Men make houses, women make homes”), and a man – the dominant role of the head of the family (“Marriage is a stone wall”). In a number of sources is mentioned the mental superiority of women over men: “It takes a woman twenty years to make a man of her son and another woman twenty minutes to make a fool of him (Helen Rowland)” [3, p. 56].

According to the San Francisco Chronicle from 1985, most Englishmen do not accept in their wives such qualities as stupidity, extravagancy, grumpiness, and cunning: “I hate women because they always know where things are (James Thurber)” [3, p. 62].

In the novels, women are endowed with such qualities as skilful housekeeping and frugality. So, an English housewife will always find lots of hat pins, needles, pencils, matches, hairpins, thimbles, blotting paper in a chest of drawers, which she buys in large quantities: “All the needles my mother ever bought – there must be hundreds – can't just be lying about this house” [12].

In English literature, great importance is attached to the description of the head of the family who was considered a “reasonable man” in a public consciousness. It is specially noted that the Victorians acted prudently not because this seemed to be so essential to them; they took some big pleasure in the opportunity to follow the dictates of duty and common sense.

The image of the head of the family implies the presence of such qualities as good manners, restraint, diligence, and the desire to follow certain rules, the ability, in accordance with these rules, to adequately respond to different life situations.

An analysis of various literary sources devoted to the description of upbringing in a traditional English family has led to the conclusion about the restraint and indifference of the British towards their children: It seems to me that the next brief example might clarify my opinion: “Parents were right, not children. Children could say anything, Arrietty knew, and enjoy saying it – knowing always they were safe and wrong” [12]. The suppression of parents’ feelings for children is considered one of the characteristic features of home education in England. Moreover, one argument against this cannot be ignored that “sometimes parents, not showing tender feelings for their children, treat their pets very gently and reverently, kissing and hugging them even in public” [9].

The British carefully avoid demonstrating fondness to other family members. We believe that there are often even more barriers between the family members than between family and society. The cult of independence of a person from other family members typically leads to isolation, and then to loneliness.

In literary texts, we also find examples that elderly parents often lead a lonely life: “In his great chair with the book-rest sat old Jolyon, the figure-head of his family and class and creed, with his white head and dome-like forehead, the representative of moderation, and love of property... As lonely an old man as there was in London” [7].

Parents bring up in children such qualities as independence, politeness, and good manners. The children learn not to spare themselves and not to bother their parents for a small matter. As an example, we can cite the famous quote by S. Tauscher: “We worry about what a child will be tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.”

However, close and trusting sibling relationships can persist throughout life: “Of all the brothers and sisters, James manifested the most emotion. Tears rolled down the parallel furrows of his thin face; where he should go now to tell his troubles he did not know... Ann's death more than he had ever thought he should; this would upset him for weeks!” [7].

In literary texts, you can find a huge number of examples that show that more attention, energy, efforts, and funds in English families are given to sons: “The outward relations between James and his son were marked by a lack of sentiment peculiarly Forsytean, but for all that two were by no means unattached. Perhaps they regarded one another as an investment; certainly they were solicitous of each other's welfare, glad of each other's company. They had never exchanged two words upon the more intimate problems of life or revealed in each other's presence the existence of any deep feeling” [7].

In an English family, it is not considered essential to maintain a close relationship with distinct relatives or neighbours if they do not like: “The Goodwin’s had always acted as if they were a cut above their neighbours, and it was a great blow to their family pride to have to acknowledge this dirty drunken old fellow as a relative” [6].

A conversation with neighbours or other unfamiliar people is full of prohibitions, rules, and unspoken words that allow you to avoid excessive confidence in communication and not disclose information regarding personal and family life [1, p. 15].

Analysis of some British novels found that the relationship between spouses in an English family distinguish themselves by their certain restraint, equanimity, unwillingness to get involved in the affairs of each other. The British try to adhere strictly to social and ethical norms, but they try to suppress their feelings and emotions: “Actions speak louder than words” [11, p. 48].

The way of family life primarily is characterized by the creation of special rights and privileges for the male part of the family (husband, sons), regardless of the family's financial security. Price Collier, in his book analysing the behaviour of the English, writes that the all-family members must obey the habits, wishes, and whims of men, not women. To judge the family well-being, it is enough to analyse the husband's behaviour in relation to the spouse [5, p. 118].

Loyalty to family traditions is one of the main features of the way of family life in England.

According to A. V. Pavlovskaya, the traditional way of family life is distinguished by the desire of the British to preserve the features of life and behaviour, rituals and habits in their original form. Sometimes, foreigners hold it absurd and odd [13, p. 112].

A meal at the family table is endowed with rituality and formalities for the British. So, H. Heine, emphasized such kind of the peculiarities of eating traditions in England as the ritual beginning, the apotheosis of ease, a special atmosphere, and English toasts speeches” [8].

 A. G. Bent reports that there are some ritual elements in English meals: a hearty breakfast, a three-course lunch at one o’clock, tea with some sandwiches and biscuits in the afternoon (the famous five o’clock tee) and a three-course dinner at 7.30 pm. The scientist writes about the elements of rituality that are presented in the table setting and in some rules of behaviour at the table. For instance, there are some customs that have been preserved since the days of chivalry: 1) at ceremonial dinners, a silver bowl with water is always placed in front of the tableware to rinse fingers in this bowl; 2) pouring milk into a teacup before pouring in the tea; 3) using a knife and a fork by eating fish [1, pp.13-15]. England is associated with the widespread use of tea in the country. According to L. Worsley, tea tradition has become a convenient occasion for the British to show off their wealth (for instance, demonstrating a tea set) and demonstrate good manners (the intricacies of the tea ceremony) for others. It is critical to note that tea was poured into cups by the mistress of the house [14, p. 198].

Home cosiness and tranquillity play a significant role in the way of family life. According to K. Chapek, the way of life in the English family is manifested in the freedom of children, patriarchal parents, hospitality, and decencies “as comfortable as a bathrobe is” [4].

Home decoration is a matter of pride and dignity for the English family: “…everything is simple, clean, cosy, and calm … resembles country style; there are carpets, mahogany furniture” [10].

The favourite occupation of the English family is gardening. A. V. Pavlovskaya notes that “the British devote all their time to landscaping and decorating their lawns, carefully planting exotic flowers and amazing shrubs around the house” [13].

The British are very fond of celebrating holidays with their families; practise various games, rituals, customs, and traditions. Thus, the celebration of Christmas includes various game components at home: Christmas carols, Christmas Pantomime on the gospel story, eating roast turkey and Christmas pudding [1, p. 16].

Here is an example of a ritual associated with the celebration of a birthday: “a gift is hidden in a stocking, a birthday cake is decorated with candles according to the number of years of the birthday child, a traditional hymn with wishes of happiness is performed by the guests” [1, p. 13].

On the basis of the given examples, we conclude that in the English way of family life, there are no such concepts as licentiousness and excessive frankness. The British consider not talking about their personal lives, and they also avoid talking about their income. For the British, it is important not to violate laws, rules or social norms. This is also characteristic of the traditional way of the family life.

To sum up this article, it should be said that the way of family life is an invariable part of British culture. Its characteristic conservatism and strict adherence to traditions ensures the integrity of the British national character, protects it from the influence of other cultures.


Список литературы

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