Interview with Vladimir M. Alpatov

This paper is an interview with Vladimir M. Alpatov, Doctor of Philology, full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, distinguished linguist, and expert on Japanese studies. The focus of the interview is intercultural communication and the problems associated with translating languages and cultural realities. The difference between cultures makes it necessary to provide extensive commentaries to make the text comprehensive to foreign readers. Though, Vladimir M. Alpatov notes, the comments depend on the purposes and types of translation, such as academic or literary translation. Symbols are part of a greater symbolic and cultural system. Often it is not the symbol but one’s attitude towards the object that causes misunderstanding and requires clarification. Vladimir A. Alpatov gives many examples of how the Japanese view and treat life differently from Russian people. Many discrepancies come from domestic life and economic practices: the Japanese are less knowledgeable about cattle than many other nations. At the same time, insects that are found all around the world receive special treatment and admiration. Vladimir A. Alpatov makes a critical point on the absence of a proper method of studying cultural differences. We observe and list numerous cultural differences, but explanations and theories we come up with have no solid methodological basis. Another topic discussed is machine translation and AI Linguistics used to be considered exact science that implied the possibility of machine translation not assisted by humans. However, it did not happen yet, and the need for human-to-human translation or post-editing is obvious. With literary translation and translation from unrelated languages, the case against AI is stronger — human intuition in translating cultural specifics is indispensable, and various translations rather than a single canonic one should be welcome. Differentiation of sciences brought about cultural studies and linguistic-cultural studies that finally embraced the study of language as one of the vital elements of culture. Today many students study foreign languages and are interested in intercultural communication. They need to learn that we can overcome bias and prejudices through personal contact. One more way to promote a different vision of one’s culture and country — is to speak about it in an understandable language, for example, on the Internet.

The Construction of national identity in Germany: "Migration Background" as a political and scientific category

Migration has far-reaching effects on the construction of national identity. It can lead to established concepts of national identity and societal affiliation being questioned. In this working paper, it will be demonstrated on the basis of the contemporary German situation that the recognition of Germany as an immigration society does not come along with an overall recognition of migrants as equal members of society. Indeed it is still not sufficient to possess German citizenship to be accepted as a full member of society. It can be proven, that the distinction between "ordinary Germans" and "Germans with migration background" plays an important role in designating allegedly different elements of society. The paper discusses how the social sciences are involved in the process, which makes this differentiation appear plausible and acceptable. Keywords: Germany, immigration, construction of a national identity, societal affiliation discrimination, social and scientific categories

Academician Antonín Přecechtěl died 50 years ago

Antonín Přecechtěl was born on 6 November 1885 in the village of Srbce in the Prostějov region (Moravia) in a peasant’s family. He graduated from the secondary grammar school in Kroměříž and studied medicine at the Czech Medical Faculty of the Charles-Ferdinand University in Prague. After graduating in 1910, he started his career as a surgeon at prof. Kukula’s surgery clinic in Prague. As a surgeon, he participated in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. In 1918 he began to work at prof. Kutvirt’s ear clinic in Prague. Here he obtained habilitation in otology and pharyngology in 1920, and in 1924 he was appointed associate professor. After Kutvirt’s death, he became the head of the clinic in 1930, and in the same year, he also received habilitation in rhino-laryngology, thus completing the process of unifying the teaching of otorhinolaryngology as one field. He held the position of head of the Otolaryngology Clinic for 30 years. He was a founding member of the Czech Otolaryngological Society (1921) and in the period 1935–1951, he was its chairman. In 1926, as a founding member, he participated in the founding of the prestigious organization Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum. He also participated in the establishment and management of the international journal Otolaryngologia Slavica, and the journal Czechoslovak Otolaryngology began to be published in 1952 on his initiative. The results of his scientific work have been published in almost 400 publications in both domestic and foreign journals. Přecechtěl was also involved in laboratory and experimental research, especially on the vestibular apparatus. In 1954 he was appointed a full member of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, in which he founded the Otolaryngological Laboratory. Professor Přecechtěl created his own otorhinolaryngology school and trained many experts. He died on 5 February 1971, at the age of 85. Keywords: history – Antonín Přecechtěl – remembrance – commemoration – Czech otorhinolaryngology – ENT

Relationship between value-oriented and motivational spheres of personality

The article deals with reflexive analysis of the peculiarities of the correlation of the components of value-orientation and motivational spheres of man. The formation of the individual as a full member and co-creator of the surrounding reality is characterized by a stable system of internal motives – motivational aspirations, taking into account social requirements and a personified system of values. The result of the interaction between man and the world is the discovery of a person’s synthesized expression of cost priorities or clear orientations and motives on the path to self-improvement. The complex and multi-faceted structure of value-orientation and motivational components of the individual involves a conscious progression to the implementation of a significant number of strategies, principles, criteria and parameters of their research. Therefore, it is expedient to use a systematic approach to the knowledge of the value orientations of man in the relationship of his personality and social guidance, creating a motivational field of its activity. On the basis of empirical search, types of value-motivational profile of respondents were distinguished: progressive, regressive, impulsive, expressive, trivial. It is proved that value orientations of a person are formed under the influence of conscious choice of cost priorities and are manifested in the through motive of committing. Valuable orientations are the basis for realizing the personality of rational choice of approaches and principles in achieving positive (from the evaluative positions of the person himself) results of his actions, whereas the process or procedure of this choice is based on the motives that determine the tools (means, forms, mechanisms and methods) of direct activity . Personality is guided by the choice of strategies for self-improvement, mainly by a system of values, which, transforming into a person’s value orientations, produce its motives-the desire for full self-realization under the actual conditions of situational everyday life.

Diplomatic Steps of the Antall Government towards the Euro-Atlantic Integration

My dissertation is based on more than ten years of archival research. One of the goals of Antall’s foreign policy was the Euro-Atlantic integration. In December 1991, Hungary signed an association agreement with the European Community. By 1992, opinions on the future were divided between and within the Member States of the European Communities. There was a debate among the twelve about the concept of ‘deepening’ or ‘widening’, and the term ‘multi-speed Europe’ appeared. At this time, a number of questions arose about the full membership of the Trio in NATO, of which ‘how’ and ‘when’ came first. It has also been suggested whether it would be more appropriate to intensify economic and political cooperation rather than military ones. Perhaps the NACC should be thoroughly expanded first and then move on to expanding the range of full member states?

Book graphics in the creation of the plastic artist Liudmyla Kozhokar

The fine arts artist Liudmyla Kozhokar had professional studies in Ukraine: the Arts Studio in Kherson (1975–1978) and the Ukrainian Polygraphic Institute „I. Fyodorov” in Lvov (1978–1983). Since 1984, Liudmyla Kozhokar participates in fine art exhibitions in Chisinau and abroad. Since then, the artist has collaborated with various Moldovan publishing houses, combining publishing with teaching in the field of fine arts. Since 1999 Liudmyla Kozhokar is a full member of the UAP of the Republic of Moldova, and since 2001 – a member of the A.I.A.P. UNESCO, Paris, France. Liudmyla Kozhokar’s works are in the collections of the National Art Museum of Moldova and in private ones in Romania, the Republic of Moldova, France, USA, Iraq, Italy, Germany, Japan, England, etc. The graphic designer illustrated books of different kinds: ABC books, textbooks, children’s stories, encyclopedic literature, etc. Liudmyla Kozhokar perceives each graphic book separately, finding new plastic formulas and stylistic methods, delving into the text and studying it to the last sentence.

ARCHITECTURAL ACTIVITY OF DMITRY YABLONSKY. ON THE OCCASION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH

The article is devoted to the creativity and activities of the architect Dmitry Yablonsky (1921-2001), doctor of architecture, professor, member of the Union of Architects of Ukraine, full member of the Academy of Architecture of Ukraine. He was a well-known scientist, founder of new directions in architectural theoretical research, author of the famous book "Portals in Ukrainian architecture" in 1955, pioneer of mass industrial housing construction, researcher, organizer of scientific work at the leading institute of Ukraine for experimental design, specialist in quantitative methods of assessment. modeling and forecasting of housing objects, a public figure and, the first in independent Ukraine, who among architects began to design and build temples after 1985. The article gives an idea of the main directions of his architectural activity, namely: the study of the monuments of the Ukrainian Baroque of the Left-Bank Ukraine of the 17th – 18th centuries; participation in the design of the first experimental panel residential buildings and mass residential series for Ukraine; the development of the foundations of the typology of dwellings; application of system, mathematical methods and programming in the design of residential buildings; creation of an innovative dissertation work "Quantitative methods for solving problems of the typology of housing", 1968, participation in the development of state programs to provide the population of Ukraine with housing (1990-2000). And also, Yablonsky was the first who began to design and build new sacred buildings in the post-Soviet period in Ukraine (1986-2000). According to his project, was built the Orthodox Cathedral of St. George in the city of Makeyevka (1991-2001). The article is illustrated with materials and photos from the family archive of D.N. Yablonsky.

EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE RETURN OF BULGARIAN MIGRANTS IN RESPONSE TO THE GROWING NEED FOR SPECIALIZED STAFF IN SOFIA

This article examines the issues related to Bulgarian migration after the country acceded to the EU in 2007 and focuses its research on the phenomenon of “brain drain” – the process of mass emigration during which specialists, scientists and skilled workers leave. Today, this phenomenon is quite typical for Bulgaria as part of the former socialist countries of Eastern Europe. The problems associated with the “brain drain” are very relevant as the country suffers significant economic and cultural losses while the host countries acquire large and inexpensive intellectual capital. During the years of transition, Bulgaria strives to be a full member of the EU and provide opportunities for development and realization of specialists, scientists, and researchers. This requires the adoption of measures and initiatives to establish sustainable development in the capital and in the country and meet the need for highly skilled labor in the industrial sphere. The article aims to explore the possibilities for the return of Bulgarian migrants in response to the growing need for specialized staff in Sofia. The quantitative study involved more than 500 Bulgarian migrants residing in different host countries, selected randomly and responded voluntarily. The article defends the thesis that if Bulgaria provides opportunities to develop specialized staff through the undertaking of specific initiatives, this can be an attraction and a motive for the return of Bulgarian migrants. The study methodology utilizes the quantitative studies model (and, more specifically, the questionnaire method). To obtain more reliable results, their interpretation also includes additional statistical tools. The question whether a correlation exists between the age and the degree of settlement of Bulgarians abroad is of special interest and has been investigated using the Cramér V. The results show that in recent years the need for specialized staff is constantly growing. In response to this need, the initiatives that are undertaken are aimed at innovations in science and education. The study also takes into account the readiness of Bulgarian migrants to return home.

Twelve EU Countries on the Eastern Flank of NATO: What about Ukraine?

The Trimarium Initiative (TI) is a platform for co-operation of twelve central and eastern European (CEE) countries of the eastern flank of the European Union (EU), introduced by Poland and Croatia in 2015. The TI is based on member co-operation in the development of transport and communication, energy, raw materials (gas and oil) transfer infrastructure, and digitization. The region is an important and rapidly growing market, and the TI goal is to boost economic co-operation among these twelve countries. Ukraine is not an EU member state, so it cannot be a full member of the TI; however, several TI infrastructural projects are open to Ukrainian companies. As Russia’s aggressive energy policy impacts Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic states, Scandinavia, and Slovakia, the TI has a potential to meet this challenge. Transport and communication and energy transit infrastructure are promising areas of co-operation among TI countries and Ukraine. U.S. support has added optimism and prestige to the initiative.