The Ethno-Cultural Essence of Linguistic Consciousness

Each culture is based on a specific system of subject meanings, social stereotypes and cognition patterns. The “worldview” invariant is determined by socially developed supports (by meanings, in the first place). In its turn, there may be a worldview which is common for the whole society (for a socio-cultural community or ethnos) or an individual one typical of a specific group (a socio-cultural group) within a given ethnos. In the process of ontogenesis, a child learns words in its native language, while lying behind these words is an integral image of consciousness comprising two layers. The first layer is the existential one. It includes the bio-dynamic tissue of live movement and action, as well as a sensory image. The second layer is the reflexive one, which includes meaning and sense. Behind a language sign, there is an organic cell, which is part of a worldview typical of a specific culture. The systemic character of meanings reflects the system of concepts existing in a given culture, in a Universe structure (worldview) formed within this culture. It is the association component represented by figurative and metaphoric connotations that determines the semantic content of a cultural concept.