Between reality and myth

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Coordinates of Stereotype Thinking
• The Relation Between the Self and the Group
• Stereotype formation
  • The social origin of stereotypes
  • Ethnocentrism
  • Phenomena involved in the mechanism of stereotype formation
    • Illusory correlation
      • Explaining illusory correlations
        • Availability Heuristic
        • Schema-driven processing
    • Categorization
    • Outgroup homogeneity
  • Stereotyping and Language
    • The functions of language in intergroup contexts
    • The Language of Stereotyping
      • The foreigner
      • The stereotype of Rroma
      • The stereotype of the Jews
      • The Stereotype of the Turks
      • The stereotype of the Greeks
      • The stereotype of the Hungarians
  • Conclusions

  Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

  This paper aims to explore the connection between language and stereotyping as a socio-cognitive process. By analyzing a corpus of linguistic material, including vocabulary, nicknames, forms of address, collocations, expressions, and proverbs, the study aims to shed light on how the stereotypical image of certain ethnic groups (Rroma, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and Hungarians) is portrayed in the Romanian language.

  • The role of language in perpetuating and shaping stereotypes
  • The impact of social and historical factors on stereotype formation
  • The linguistic mechanisms used to encode otherness and outgroup ethnicity
  • The influence of cognitive biases and social categorization on stereotype development
  • The specific examples of stereotypes associated with different ethnic groups in Romania

  Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

  • Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the research goals and methodology. The study focuses on analyzing the linguistic material related to stereotypes of various ethnic groups in Romania.
  • The Coordinates of Stereotype Thinking: This chapter delves into the concept of stereotyping, highlighting its importance in social interactions and how it simplifies information processing. The chapter also introduces Lippmann's pioneering work on stereotypes.
  • The Relation Between the Self and the Group: This chapter discusses the relationship between individual and group identities and how this relationship influences the formation of stereotypes.
  • Stereotype Formation: This chapter explores various aspects of stereotype formation, focusing on concepts such as ethnocentrism, illusory correlation, outgroup homogeneity, and categorization.
  • Stereotyping and Language: This chapter examines the role of language in intergroup contexts and analyzes the linguistic material that reveals stereotypical perceptions of different ethnic groups in Romania, including the Rroma, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and Hungarians.

  Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

  This study focuses on the keywords of stereotypes, language, ethnicity, social cognition, linguistic analysis, corpus analysis, Romania, Rroma, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and Hungarians.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  How does language contribute to the formation of stereotypes?

  Language serves as a socio-cognitive tool that encodes perceptions of "otherness" through nicknames, proverbs, and specific collocations.

  What ethnic groups are analyzed in the Romanian context?

  The study focuses on the stereotypical images of the Rroma, Jews, Turks, Greeks, and Hungarians within Romania.

  What is "illusory correlation" in stereotype formation?

  It is a cognitive bias where people perceive a relationship between a specific group and a behavior (usually negative) that does not actually exist.

  What is "outgroup homogeneity"?

  It is the tendency to view members of an outside group as being more similar to each other than members of one's own group.

  How do proverbs reflect social stereotypes?

  Proverbs often encapsulate long-standing cultural biases and historical tensions, passing them down through generations as "common wisdom."