Historical and Symbolic Aspects of Linguistic Representation of the World

Abstract

The article is an attempt to offer a theoretical understanding of the notion of a "Linguistic world-image" (LWI) within symbolic contexts as represented in the current literature, define the symbol's features, its influence on LWI in historic perspective, and investigate its functioning within idioms or metaphors. We have undertaken the review of previous LWI investigations and, as the methodological basis of our research, we have used ethno-semantic and linguisticphilosophical approaches to language; specifically, the method of multiple etymology, introduced by V. N. Toporov and developed by M.M. Makovsky, which permitted us to identify the correlation of LWI with linguistic signs as a carrier of symbolic meaning. It should be noted that studying symbolic language properties and linguistic signs within the linguistic world-image, which were not taken into account before, is conductive to a more profound comprehension of the correlation between language, culture, and mutual understanding index in the intercultural communication process. The LWI concept is considered as a subjectiveobjective dynamic multilevel construct, which presents its primary features through a lexicalsemantic language system within a world and national culture formed as a result of the reflection of sensorial perception, facts, understanding and estimation of the objective phenomena in national linguistic consciousness, in the experience of correlation of language concepts, images and symbols throughout the cultural historical development of the language. Therefore, two approaches to studying LWI are evident -cognitive and cultural-philosophical -which are not so much conflicting as mutually reinforcing.Keywords: symbolic language properties, linguistic sign, linguistic world-image, linguistic thinking, linguistic consciousness, inner formThe study of symbolic language properties and linguistic signs within LWI is of utmost importance in the active interaction of cultures and peoples. It leads to a more profound comprehension of the correlation between language, culture, and the level of understanding during the intercultural communication process. For this reason, a theoretical understanding of the linguistic world-image concept in symbolic contexts is pressing and necessary. The review of previous LWI research has revealed that it was mostly reduced to the analysis of metaphor combinations of words having abstract semantics, which singled out perceptible sensory images (Arutyunova, 1976;Apresyan, 1995; Teliya, 1996; Lakoff & Johnson, 1987; Vezhbitskaya, 1996; Zaliznyak, 2005; Kornilov, 2002;Radchenko, 2002). It did not take into account the symbolic aspect of LWI, which may open up new avenues of research. Any national language is known to reflect not only scientific knowledge about the world but also includes things that do not correlate with objective reality, such as metaphors, idioms, and mythical images. This leads us to conclude that symbols and mythological images function in idioms and metaphors because the early culture fixed i...