Semantic Organization of English Folk Fairy Tales

Semantic organization of English folk fairy- tales is studied from several points of views. Modern language theory deals with a new approach to the semantic organization of English folk fairy-tales – the conceptual analysis of fairy-tale texts done within cognitive linguistics. Cognitive linguistics is one of the main trends of modern functional paradigm which establishes connection between language units and mental essences defined by them.

Verbalized knowledge as an object of scientific research in cognitive linguistics is represented by concepts – operational units of conceptual picture world. Concepts connected with verbalized code also become operational units of the language picture world. They form “inner lexicon”, as knowledge represented in the language. “Inner lexicon organization is based on verbal nets. Verbal nets are supposed to be interwoven and interconnected. They unite “inner lexicon” into the unified hierarchy formed structural conceptual space, the basic verbalized part of human memory the purpose of which is to preserve information and quickly derive it. “Inner lexicon” conception formulated by Ye. Kubrakova finds its confirmation in the investigations of modern foreign linguists [1; 2].

The linguists of our country and modern foreign linguists and philosophers underline the fact that verbalized knowledge form specific psychological space in human thinking and can be modeled in a certain way [1; 2].. But unfortunately nobody knows how these models look like. The linguists and philosophers try to find the answer to this question while learning the sphere of language semantics. It is considered to be the subject of cognitive linguistics. In this case the language meaning is dealt as a “window” through which the access is opened to the hidden from observation conceptual (psychological) thinking space. The meaning is identified as a specific item of knowledge, information or experience preserved in human memory [3; 4].

Semantics in cognitive linguistics is investigated by the method of the conceptual analysis. It is considered to be the search of common concepts which form one and the same sign and represent this sign as a marker of a certain cognitive structure. Both the words, sentences and the texts belonging to a certain genre, including the fairy-tale genre can be represented by this sign [3; 4].

From the point of view of text linguistics the fairy-tale texts are considered to be a great sign which has both a specific form of expression and a specific plan of content. The last one is characterized by the integrity as a content unity and also semantic coherence provided by correlation of the text forming informative blocks. Informative blocks and their correlations form the space of the textual world, so-called reference zone of the text itself, creating the textual concept which can be represented in the form of a structure or a model. The following postulates of the text linguistics find its application in the sphere of cognitive linguistics. This field of science deals with structures of knowledge representation which are behind language signs and speech patterns. If the text is considered to be a language sign of a certain concept the common goal of both spheres of the language theory becomes the understanding of its nature and ways of organization.

Content organization of fairy-tale text is represented by two basic models: 1) horizontal (linear) model of the display of chain microstructures and 2) the model of vertical generation of eventual text orientation. These models of textual concepts suggested in text linguistics are crossed to a certain degree with models applied in cognitive linguistics. The model of vertical generation of eventual text orientation as one of the varieties of the structured semantic capsules including nucleus and periphery zones of textual semantics coincides with the model of prototypic categories applied in cognitive linguistics. Starting remote text differently manifested by the surface language means is in fact central conceptual scheme of the prototypic category. This scheme is subjected to transformations (generalization and specification) in real fairy-tale texts. The task of revealing of the central scheme structure is solved in text linguistics by means of horizontal model of chain microstructures (the generation of narrative series) and conceptual model as a structured multitude of semantic indications. These indications can be displayed in the form of functions of the fairy-tale characters predetermined by their existence in “possible worlds”. All above-mentioned postulates of the text linguistics become more concrete being comprehended in terms of propositional frame and net models, developed in cognitive linguistics.

It is necessary to point out that the generalized images of characters are the basic conceptual units of the content of magic fairy-tales. Depending on the category type of the character it has certain constant functions in the fairy-tale context, the realization of which is directed at a certain goal and result. Qualitative characteristics are physical and spiritual properties of fairy-tale characters. Dynamic characteristics are associated with actions and deeds (functions) of characters. Dynamic characteristics are closely connected with predicates of cause and consequence. There are 9 main conceptual types of fairy-tale characters: a positive character, a negative character, a neutral character, a sought-for character, a sender, a pseudo-hero, a magic helper and a magic means. So the conceptual basis of every generalized fairy-tale image is represented by a frame in which the conceptual field of the character includes predicative zones of attributes, functions. motivations and results of actions.

References:

1. Kubrakova Ye. S.Osobenosti recheboj deyatelnosti problem vnytrenego leksikona // Chelovetcheskij factor v yazike: Yazik i porozhdenie rechi. – M.: Nauka, 1991. – S. 82-137.

2. Aitchison J. Words in the Mind. An Introduction to the Mental Lexicon. – Oxford (UK) and Cambridge (USA): Blaackwell, 1990. – 290 p.

3. Gibbs R. W. The Cognitive Psychological Reality of Image Schemas and Theeir Transformations // Cognitive Linguistics. – 1995. - № 4/.6. – P. 347-378.

4. Wierzbicka A. Lexicography and Conceptual Analysis. – Ann-Arbor: Karoma Publishers Inc., 1985. – 368 p.