Semantics and Pragmatics of the Word in Masonic Tradition

Abstract

The issue of the research is connected with the fact that the scientific way of linguistic perception and interpretation is not the only one. There are many other ways, including the interpretation of linguistic units in the esoteric tradition. Such interpretation differs significantly from the scientific one. However, this is precisely what makes it interesting. It offers a different type of understanding, which, in the long term, is capable of enriching the concept of the unit, or at least elaborating the generally accepted concepts. Hence, the research topic was the identification and description of the structure and functions of the Masonic perception of the word. From the pragmatic side of an important language category, it provides a tool not only for its in-depth perception, but also for correcting the ideas about its usage. Scientific novelty manifests itself in the discovery of verifiable characteristics of the unit, which together create a holistic view of the functioning of the communicative phenomenon. The research objective was to identify the semantic content and functional attribution of the communicative unit in the form in which it has been perceived and used by national and foreign Masons for three hundred years. The research employed semantic, communicative, and functional analyses. Specific cases of word usage were subjected to these types of analysis and were grouped according to the prevailing component of meaning or functional orientation. The Masonic typology of the word was revealed to include a number of interrelated units that perform various functions.

Keywords

• freemasonry
• communicative unit
• meaning of the word
• type of the word
• function of the word
• perception
• connotations
• use