Verbalization of Theomorphic Features of the Concept "Imagination"

Abstract

The research was conducted within the framework of the cognitive linguistics. It implies the study of mental concepts which are significant for the culture of a certain nation through their verbalization in the language of this ethnic group. The paper features an analysis of the theomorphic features of the concept "imagination" and the ways of their verbalization in the worldview of the English. The concept under discussion remains understudied. However, the high frequency of its features in the language indicates the importance of this mental unit for the corresponding culture. "Imagination" is a concept of the inner world. Its structure is represented by several groups and subgroups of cognitive features. We consider the group of figurative features to be structurally the most complex one. It includes the following subgroups – features of inanimate nature and features of animate nature. Within the group of inanimate nature, we distinguish a micro group of theomorphic features. The theomorphic features of the concept reflect the ideas and the perception of the God, piety, divinity, etc. and of religious group. At the same time, the analysis of contexts shows that some of the revealed features are considered to be typical of all religious groups of the cultural community, while others can be quite specific. As a rule, the first type of features is verbalized in the language more often than the second.

Keywords

• conceptual sign
• religion
• language picture of the world
• metaphor
• concept structure
• mental unit