Pre-Logical Communication

Abstract

The paper deals with a pre-logical communication contrasted to verbal interaction founded on logical grounds. The material for the study includes archaic incantations, modern superstitions and poetic texts. The methods of interpretative and intentional analysis have been applied. A pre-logical communication is based on the establishment of relations between objects or events devoid of cause-and-effect relationship in reality. Such conceptualization has been described, explained and terminologically fixed as participation by L. Lévy-Bruhl. It is characteristic of a magic worldview which historically precedes logical reality, but remains up to now in certain types of discourse. Psychologically, such explanation is a biased generalization of accidental connection between things. However, such illogical reality representation has a right to exist as it helps people explain the unexplainable. Semiotically it corresponds to transaction of iconic signs to signals or indices. Three types of pre-logical explanation of events in everyday life have been described in this paper, i.e. diagnostic, prognostic and magical. A pre-logical communication in literary discourse may be understood as a demonstration of universal interconnection of things and events making a whole worldview. This interconnection is based on multiple associations and intertextual allusions. Three types of pre-logical worldview may be singled out as creative, metaphoric and intertextual multiplication of reality. A deliberate usage of pre-logical communication in scientific, pedagogical, legal and political types of discourse may be qualified as a manipulative influence, whereas when used in everyday, advertising, recreational and artistic communication it is determined by the intention to broaden the limits of a routine existence.

Keywords

• communication
• discourse
• participation
• worldview
• illogicality