The Semantic Structure of the Image of “Vision” in the Russian Linguistic Worldview

Abstract

This article examines the structure of the image of “vision” in the Russian linguistic worldview. The structural reconstruction was performed through the study of the key meanings of “vision” in the Russian language. The proposition, a logical outline of the components involved in visual perception, was selected as a way by which the knowledge about “vision” is gathered. The following components were found to be a regular source of figurative meanings: the subject of visual perception, the process of visual perception, the subject’s features indicating the quality of visual perception, and the means of visual perception. The dominant meanings of different propositional elements constituting the structural core of the image of “vision” were revealed: “the ability to see,” “the quality of vision,” “light,” “mediation,” and “accommodation.” The main denotative spheres covered by the knowledge about “vision” were distinguished: the human sphere, as well as the spheres of artifacts (technical means of image capture, artificial light sources) and nature (primarily natural light sources). It was shown that the metaphors referring to the human sphere are based on the idea of a close connection between visual perception and mental activity. The anthropomorphic metaphors arising from the artifacts used to produce images are created following the same logical pattern. The metaphorical understanding of light sources, both artificial and natural, is determined by the association between “vision” and light in the minds of native Russian speakers.

Keywords

• metaphor
• image
• visual perception
• dominant meanings
• semantic structure
• proposition
• russian language