Contextual gender markers in riddles (in Russian and German languages)

This article deals with contextual modes of gender expression in Russian and German riddles. Multistage research of the linguistic units is held including a survey of corresponding literature, choice of linguistic methods (descriptive, comparative methods and distributive analysis) as well as selection, analysis and classification of gender-marked riddles according to the main identified modes of gender expression, such as personification and action semiology. At the end of the article the productivity analysis of ways to reveal gender marked riddles is made. The author comes to the conclusion that gender marked units referring to females dominate in Russian and those referring to males prevail in German. The results of the research can be used to further study the connection of languages and culture as well as to analyse national and cultural peculiarities of different languages.