Axiology of In-Group and Out-Group Component in Russian and Kalmyk Linguocultures

The article shows the axiology of in-group and out-group component in Russian and Kalmyk linguocultures. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that the opposition in-group – out-group, as a significant category in the worldview of ethnic groups, shapes a system of values and determines the specifics of communicative behavior both within the in-group and beyond it. Material: paremiological units representing the concepts of in-group and out-group in Russian and Kalmyk linguocultures, selected using exhaustive sampling from the dictionaries of V. I. Dal and B.Kh. Todaeva. Methods: comparative, conceptual, and linguocultural approaches. Results: the analysis has revealed similari-ties in the conceptualization of in-group in both Russian and Kalmyk linguocultures: in-group is considered better and more valuable, akin to a mother. Differences include the fact that in Russian culture in-group is characterized by a larger set of features, whereas in Kalmyk culture, it is described using temperature and color metaphors. Rus-sian behavior is oriented toward mutual assistance and the protection of one’s in-group, while Kalmyk behavior emphasizes self-reliance and adherence to ethical norms and harmony. Regarding the conceptualization of out-group, both cultures asso-ciate it with the features unknowable and interesting. Differences lie in the emotional evaluation: for Russians, out-group is accompanied by emotional detachment (no pity, no shame), while for Kalmyks out-group is negatively characterized through tempera-ture and color metaphors (dark, cold) and attributed the feature dangerous. The Kal-myk behavioral model is based on self-imposed requirements (one must not live by one's mind, live by your own), whereas the Russian model focuses on the rejection of out-group (do not pity, do not trust, do not accept). These differences are related to the main trait of out-group in each culture: in Russian culture out-group is unclear, whereas in Kalmyk culture out-group is dangerous.