The images of the “other” and the “alien” in the texts of the English language national anthems
- DOI
- 10.5922/vestnikpsy-2026-3-2
- Pages
- 19-29
Abstract
The article examines the images of the “other” and the “alien” as constant components underlying the structuring of the texts of English language national anthems. It highlights the role of the phenomenon of self-identification, which contributes to the formation of both individual and collective identity, one of whose components is national identity. As one of the means of representing national identity, the texts of the national anthems of a number of countries from different geographical regions are analyzed. Within the framework of the traditional dichotomy of the “self” and the “other,” particular attention is paid to the study of the image of the “other,” which encompasses the images of the “other” and the “alien.” It is established that the image of the “other” may be realized in both explicit and implicit forms. The study demonstrates that the image of the “alien” is less widespread in the texts under analysis and exhibits considerable thematic diversity. By applying the methods of continuous sampling and quantitative analysis, as well as the method of semantic analysis of linguistic material, the study identifies the principal means of explicating the images of the “other” and the “alien” in English language national anthems.