Micro-Pragmatic Analysis of the Concept Security in the Mind of Americans

The purpose of our research is: to show Micro-Pragmatic Analysis of the concept SECURITY in the mind of Americans; to present internal structure of the concept SECURITY and its subconcepts, as SAFE, PROTECT, DEFEND, FREEDOM, STRENGTH, WAR, TERROR. The analysis of associative links of concept SECURITY representatives revealing a certain associative meaning, which allows us to consider linguistic units associated with this meaning as some entrances to the concept SECURITY. Such subconcepts as SAFE, PROTECT, DEFEND, FREEDOM, STRENGTH, WAR, TERROR are associated with the concept of SECURITY or they are in a synonymous relationships with the main concept SECURITY. The analysis of all the presented meanings allows us to identify the main components of the meaning of the concept SECURITY: 1) a subjective feeling, sensation, state: a) physical security; b) stability, order in different spheres (financial, social, political, etc.); c) confidence, trust, peace; 2) everything that provides this feeling, sensation: objects, people, their actions. These interpretations of the meaning of the concept SECURITY allow us to notice certain features of the linguistic representation of the concept SECURITY. Thus, the antonymic interpretation is widely used (unthreatened, riskless, not exposed to danger, not likely to change), which generally indicates a high potential ability of antonyms (representatives of the concepts WAR, THREAT, DANGER, etc.) to appeal to this basic concept SECURITY. Based on this, it seems possible to model a conditional situation in which the concept SECURITY is actualized: instability, uncertainty, fear of worsening the situation, risk, danger, threat, destruction, losses in some area of life, causing a desire for protection, defense, security, guarantees, order, safety.