This article examines contemporary hermeneutics in linguistics through a critical lens that emphasizes reader-response, reception theory, and power dynamics

Аннотация

This article examines contemporary hermeneutics in linguistics through a critical lens that emphasizes reader-response, reception theory, and power dynamics. Drawing on the works of Paul Ricoeur, Wolfgang Iser, Hans-Robert Jauss, Michel Foucault, Stanley Fish, and Pierre Bourdieu, the discussion explores how interpretive practices are not only processes of meaning reconstruction but also arenas of social contestation. The article argues that modern hermeneutics must address both the aesthetic and ideological dimensions of language to remain relevant in an era of digital communication and global cultural exchanges. Keywords: Hermeneutics, reader-response, reception theory, interpretive communities, power dynamics, contemporary linguistics, discourse analysis, narrative interpretation Hermeneutics, traditionally regarded as the art and science of interpretation, has evolved from its early applications in biblical and classical texts to become a critical framework in contemporary linguistic studies. Today, hermeneutic inquiry not only investigates how texts convey meaning but also examines the socio-political processes that shape that meaning. This article revisits hermeneutic theory in the context of modern linguistics by engaging with a diverse set of perspectives—from reader-response and reception theory to analyses of power and ideology. By integrating insights from scholars such as Ricoeur, Iser, Jauss, Foucault, Fish, and Bourdieu, the discussion highlights the multifaceted nature of interpretation in an era characterized by rapid technological change and cultural hybridity. Paul Ricoeur’s work, particularly in The Conflict of Interpretations (1974), has been seminal in demonstrating that interpretation is inherently dialogical and conflictual. Ricoeur posits that texts are polysemous, inviting multiple and sometimes competing interpretations. This plurality is not a flaw but rather an essential feature of language that enriches communicative exchanges. In contemporary linguistics, Ricoeur’s insights encourage researchers to view texts as dynamic sites of negotiation, where the interplay of historical context, authorial intent, and reader response results in a “conflict” that is both productive and transformative. 108 ACADEMIC RESEARCH IN MODERN SCIENCE International scientific-online conference Wolfgang Iser’s The Act of Reading: A Theory of Aesthetic Response (1978) shifts the focus of hermeneutics from author-centered interpretation to the role of the reader. Iser introduces the concept of the “implied reader”—a hypothetical construct that embodies the conditions necessary for a text’s meaning to emerge. According to Iser, the text provides gaps and indeterminacies that the reader actively fills in, thereby co-creating meaning. This reader-response approach has profound implications for contemporary linguistic research, particularly in digital contexts where interactivity and user- generated content continuously reshape texts. Hans-Robert Jauss further developed reception theory in Toward an Aesthetic of Reception (1982), arguing that the meaning of a text is not fixed at the point of production but evolves through its reception by diverse audiences over time. Jauss’s approach emphasizes the historical and cultural conditions that inform how texts are read and understood. For modern linguistics, this perspective highlights the importance of considering audience variability— especially in globalized digital environments where cultural and ideological backgrounds influence interpretive communities. Reception theory thus provides a framework for analyzing how different groups interact with texts, thereby revealing the contingent nature of meaning. Michel Foucault’s The Archaeology of Knowledge (1972) offers a radically different take on interpretation by focusing on the underlying systems of thought that govern discourse. Foucault’s archaeological method seeks to uncover the historical conditions that shape the production and circulation of knowledge. In the realm of linguistics, this approach shifts the focus from individual texts to the broader discursive formations that inform meaning. By examining the power structures that underpin language, Foucault’s work encourages a critical analysis of how interpretive practices are embedded in social and institutional frameworks. This perspective is especially relevant in understanding how digital media and globalization influence the construction and dissemination of knowledge. Stanley Fish’s provocative essay, Is There a Text in This Class? (1980), challenges the notion of objective textual meaning by arguing that interpretation is determined by the interpretive communities to which readers belong. According to Fish, the meanings of texts are not inherent but are produced through the shared assumptions, norms, and practices of specific groups. This concept of interpretive communities is particularly valuable in the study of digital communication, where online