Symbolic concepts of сын and son in russian and english linguocultures

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to compare the symbolic signs of the сын and son concepts in Russian and English linguocultures. The solution of the following tasks will allow achieving the set goal: 1. Determine the status of the compared concepts. 2. Describe and compare the symbolic signs of the сын and son concepts in Russian and English linguocultures. The relevance of the research is the first experience of analyzing complex motivating signs and comparing from these positions the symbolic concepts – сын and son – in two linguocultures. The scientific novelty of the work lies in identifying symbolic signs among the motivating ones of these concepts, describing the ways of their objectification in two languages. The common symbolic sign of the сын and son concepts is the motivating one 'fetus'. This sign goes back to the ancient symbol of the World Tree. The two-component realization of his image occurs through this sign: 1. the son as the fruit of the family (fruit-bearing) tree and 2. the son as the fruitful tree or branch of this tree. The symbol of the fruit bearing the seeds of the future is recreated through this complex image. The syncretism of this symbol perception allows us to express the idea of procreation, reproducing itself from generation to generation. The Russian concept сын among the motivating ones has two more symbolic ones – the ‘(second) hypostasis of the Trinity’, ‘spiritual son’, belonging to the religious sphere of Christianity (Orthodoxy).