Vortrag: Talk “Ukrainian words in use: How subjective can word meaning be?”

Abstract
Meaning of words develops and changes over time (cf. Cherubim 2015), languages reflect changes in society (cf. Popp 1997) and are culturally embedded (cf. Brown, Witkowski 1983). I assume that both the objective and subjective meaning of words is relevant. The objective meaning is represented in dictionaries whereas the subjective one is communicated by individual native speakers. However, subjective and objective (or collective) meanings are not contradictory, the subjective one is just rather individual.
In my PhD thesis I am exploring to which extent meanings of words are influenced culturally as well as individually. For that purpose, I plan to work with definitions of particular words provided in dictionaries as well as conduct experimental conversations with Ukrainian, Polish and German native speakers, in which they share their associations for these words.
As of today, I have conducted a pilot study with eight Ukrainian native speakers, which included two experimental conversations with each participant separately. In my talk I am planning to present first findings and give insight into the analysis I am currently working on.
Since most linguistic research on meaning is focused on collective (objective) meaning (Anstatt 1995, Bromhead, Ye 2020) and less includes individual meaning, I would like to shed light on these subjective nuances. I am sure that comments, suggestions and critical feedback at the 75th StuTS will help me make progress in my PhD dissertation.

Key words: semantics, word meaning, objective meaning, subjective meaning, Ukrainian language.

References:
Anstatt, Tanja (1995): Die Bedeutung von Bezeichnungen für „Zeit“. In: Dippong, Horst (ed.): Linguistische Beiträge zur Slavistik. München: Sagner, 3-18.
Bromhead, Helen; Ye, Zhengdao (eds.) (2020): Meaning, life and culture: in conversation with Anna Wierzbicka. Acton ACT: ANU Press.
Brown, Cecil H.; Witkowski, Stanley R. (1983) Marking-reversals and cultural importance. In: Language, 59, 3. New York: Linguistic Society of America, 569-582.
Cherubim, Dieter (2015): Entwicklung durch Abweichungen. In: Kilian, Jörg; Neuland, Eva; Pfeiffer, Joachim; Schlobinski, Peter; Staiger, Michael (eds.): Der Deutschunterricht. Register des Jahrgangs 67/2015, Heft 3/15. Bobingen: Klett, Friedrich Verlag, 2-12.
Popp, Hermann (1997): Ideologie und Sprache. Untersuchung sprachlicher Veränderungen und Neuerungen im Kontext der politischen und wirtschaftlichen Umgestaltungsprozesse in der ehemaligen Sowjetunion. Marburg, Lahn: Biblion Verlag. (= Scripta Slavica, 1).