Proverbs and sayings in modern Chinese textbooks for studying Russian as a foreign language as tools of creating the image of Russia

In Russian as a foreign language textbooks, proverbs and sayings dedicated to Russian culture are often encountered. These fixed expressions enrich the foreign students’ associations with Russia and its people as well as comprehensively draw a truthful and vivid image of Russian culture, and enhance the students’ interest in studying the Russian language. In the present research, proverbs and sayings are considered not only as a culturological phenomenon but also as a means of shaping an image of Russia in Russian as a foreign language textbooks. The object of the study is the Russian proverbs and sayings in modern Chinese textbooks of Russian as a foreign language. The article examines the role of the Russian proverbs and sayings as the tools for creating the image of Russia in modern Chinese textbooks of Russian as a foreign language. The material of the paper consists of proverbs and sayings in the textbooks "Russian Language in Universities" published in China from 2008 to 2014. Using continuous sampling method, we have identified more than 250 Russian proverbs and sayings. The methodology of the work combines elements of comparative and content analysis of the source data. The scientific originality of the study involves identification of the structure of Russia’s image represented by the proverbs and sayings under consideration. The article identifies and analyzes the following components of the image of Russia created by proverbs: natural, historical images, images of spiritual culture and everyday life. Proverbs and sayings are a phenomenon of human existence, fragments and treasures of popular wisdom. They reflect the natural image, character, mentality, worldview of the people who created them, their traditions, customs, and history, etc. Considering both linguistic and extralinguistic factors, the author concludes that in modern Chinese textbooks of Russian as a foreign language, Russian proverbs and sayings have become effective and constructive means of stimulating rich associations about Russia among students, and they shape a typical natural image, a rich image of spiritual culture, multifaceted everyday life, and a comprehensive historical image of Russia.