The Russian language has one of the richest lexical compositions. And, despite this variety of words, it is constantly updated with new ones - often borrowed. Whether this is good or bad, we will not judge. However, it is better to know the meaning of new words of foreign origin, because one way or another they become part of our native language, assimilate into it, gradually enter everyday speech and begin to be perceived as familiar to us.
For a person who knows the source language, it is easy to determine the meaning of borrowing with a simple translation. The rest, in order to find out the meaning of an unfamiliar word, will have to look into the dictionary of borrowed (or foreign) expressions. Another option to replenish your vocabulary is to read this article. From it you will learn what a "culttrager" is.
Where did it come from?
Kulturtraeger is a word of German origin. The first part of it is understandable without translation: cultures (German -Kultur - culture and everything that can be associated with it. With the second part of the word - treger (German - Träger) - is more difficult. It means "bearer" in German. From these terms in the sum we get - the bearer of culture.
Stylistic coloration
But not everything is so simple. The fact is that this structural unit of the language in the dictionary has special stylistic marks. The first of the meanings is outdated, the second is ironic, playful. This means that it is not spoken in its direct meaning. That is, you cannot simply translate this word from German and use it in speech exactly as it sounds literally.
Meaning
Does it seem like things just got more complicated? Then we explain. In Soviet times, the colonizers of the countries of the First World were called cultural traders, who forcibly persuaded the inhabitants of the conquered territories to their culture, using inhumane methods and pursuing any selfish goals.
Now cultural tragers are people who strive to cultivate everyone and everything around them, these are teachers, missionaries, civilizers. They consider it their mission to make society more educated and civilized. Many of them are really doing something to enlighten those who have not yet reached the level of a civilized person.
What's wrong with that? What causes irony, and why does the word take on a negative connotation? The fact is that all the efforts of cultural traders are insincere, they do not come from the heart. The main reason that prompted such people to act is personal motives, and not at all altruism, asit may seem.
The role of the institution of culture in modern society has greatly increased. That is why it has become, firstly, fashionable to promote art and sciences, and secondly, profitable. This is basically what makes people culture tragers.
Although recently there has been a tendency to use this word in its direct meaning. So, if you are called a cultural trailer, do not rush to be offended. Maybe the person really wants to praise your achievements in the field of culture.
