INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION THROUGH THE PRISM OF INTERNET METAPHORS IN RUSSIAN AND ENGLISH DISCOURSE

Abstract

This article examines Internet metaphors as a linguo-cognitive phenomenon reflecting the specifics of intercultural communication in Russian and English linguistic spaces. The study identified and classified Internet metaphors representing various cognitive models, including spatial, bodily, natural, social, technical, and economic metaphors. Particular attention is paid to comparing Russian and English Internet metaphors and analyzing their universal and specific characteristics. The purpose of the article: to identify the cognitive and intercultural features of Internet metaphors and determine their role in Russian-English intercultural discourse.

Comparative, cognitive, and contextual analysis methods were applied, allowing the identification of differences in Internet reality perception in Russian and English cultures. It was established that Russian Internet discourse is characterized by greater emotional expressiveness, whereas English discourse is more focused on technical terms.

The research results provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of Internet metaphor formation and their role in intercultural interaction. The obtained data may be useful in studying cognitive linguistics, linguoculturology, as well as in translation practice and intercultural communication. The authors conclude that the identified features of Internet metaphors directly correlate with modern challenges of intercultural communication, especially in the context of online interaction, which requires not only linguistic flexibility, but also sociocultural adaptability.