Linguocultural sign “dragon” as a propositional sign
This article is devoted to description of propositionality of linguocultural sign “long / dragon”. As a rule, descriptions of linguocultural concepts include linguistic, cultural or linguocultural aspects. However, the object of the investigation requires appealing to the propositional aspect. Linguocultural sign dragon is of particular interest because it is one of the most ancient signs and therefore includes many semantic layers. Propositionality of linguocultural sign “long / dragon” is conditioned by absence of real correlated object. Propositional sign “long / dragon” is a logical construct containing an idea (a sense). Concept dragon, being basic for Chinese culture, at the same time is notable by mythological bordering on chimerical character. The article seeks to distinguish stages of Chinese concept dragon’s formation. Chinese dragon as an element of zoomorphic code verbalizes a complex of culture, philosophy and logic. It is one of the classifiers which as conventional and symbolic images describe Chinese linguistic culture world-image. Choice of the dragon as a chimerical image denoting unique phenomena (Sun, East, Spring, Emperor) is due to proposition as a formula “one-only vs powerful-exclusive” in Chinese conceptual sphere. A synergy of sign dragon is accumulated by logical parametrization of the world in human consciousness which is based on indissolubility of human and nature. It is assumed that of linguocultural sign dragon in Chinese linguistic culture relates to the archetype “nature”. Two various models of the world are considered: matter-oriented and energy-oriented. Chinese culture view of the world is energy-oriented. The world is presented as embodiment of inperceptive and unknowable Beginning to perceptive and knowable. It allows to conclude that parametrization as a propositional sign in one image of mythical creature represents logically related perception of the world as a whole. The results of the research may be used in further study of Chinese linguocultural concept dragon and corresponding lingual sign.