For citation:
Vorkachev S. G. Verbalizing the symbol: Blazoning in the national heraldry of the post-soviet republics. Speech Genres, 2022, vol. 17, iss. 2 (34), pp. 133-139. DOI: 10.18500/2311-0740-2022-17-2-34-133-139, EDN: RALENK
Verbalizing the symbol: Blazoning in the national heraldry of the post-soviet republics
The article deals with the linguistic embodiment of national symbols. On the basis of lexicography, the author determines the semantic structure of the national idea and describes its implementation in the heraldic symbols of the countries of the former USSR. The semantics of the state contains the following semantic blocks: power, territory, population (people) and the country as a whole. It is established that the main symbols of power amid artifacts are the crown, sword, scepter, orb and trident, and amid the images of fauna – images of a lion, an eagle and a griffin. The territory is symbolized through the image of the administrative and historical division of the country, images of typical representatives of its flora and fauna. Most frequently, on the coats of arms one can see images of the economically most important or most typical representatives of the country’s flora, followed by landscape elements, and only after them the images of the animal world. The symbols associated with the people inhabiting the country of the certain coat of arms include images of specifically national artifacts, objects of material culture. A significant part of the images of the national heraldry symbolizes the concepts and ideals common to the country of the coat of arms as a whole: mythological and folklore images, confessional and astronomical symbols, history and other symbols. National anthems and national heraldry coincide in the history and geography of the country, while the latter is practically lacunary in relation to the emotional and evaluative side of patriotism.
- Baeshko L. S., Gordienko A. N., Gordienko A. N. Entsiklopediia simvolov [Encyclopedia of symbols]. Moscow, Eksmo Publ., 2007. 304 p. (in Russian).
- Benvenist E. Obshchaia lingvistika [General linguistics]. Moscow, Progress Publ., 1974. 447 p. (in Russian).
- Bidermann G. Entsiklopediia simvolov [Encyclopedia of symbols]. Moscow, Respublika Publ., 1996. 335 p. (in Russian).
- Egazarov A. Illiustrirovannaia entsiklopediia simvolov [Illustrated Encyclopedia of Symbols]. Moscow, Astrel’-AST Publ., 2003. 723 p. (in Russian).
- Evgen’eva A. P. Slovar’ sinonimov russkogo iazyka : v 2 t. [Dictionary of synonyms of the Russian language : in 2 vols.]. Moscow, Astrel’-AST Publ., 2001. (in Russian).
- Kuklev V. Entsiklopediia simvolov, znakov, emblem [Encyclopedia of symbols, signs, emblems]. Moscow, Mif, Lokid Publ., 1999. 490 p. (in Russian).
- Kuper Dzh. Entsiklopediia simvolov [Encyclopedia of symbols]. Moscow, Assotsiatsiya Dukhovnogo Edineniya “Zolotoi vek” Publ., 1995. 401 p. (in Russian).
- Kuznetsov S. A. Bol’shoi tolkovyi slovar’ russkogo iazyka [Large explanatory dictionary of the Russian language]. Saint Petersburg, Norint Publ., 1998. 1536 p. (in Russian).
- Pokhlebkin V. V. Slovar’ mezhdunarodnoi simvoliki i emblematiki [Dictionary of international symbols and em blems]. Moscow, Mezhdunarodnye otnosheniya Publ., 2001. 560 p. (in Russian).
- Slovar’ sovremennogo russkogo literaturnogo iazyka : v 17 t. [Dictionary of the modern Russian literary language : in 17 vols.]. Moscow, Leningrad, AN SSSR Publ., 1951– 1965. (in Russian).
- Vorkachev S. G. Ideia patriotizma v russkoi lingvokul’ture [The idea of patriotism in Russian language and culture]. Volgograd, Paradigma Publ., 2008. 200 p. (in Russian).
- Vorkachev S. G. National anthem as a genre of patriotic discourse. Speech Genres, 2020, no. 1 (25), pp. 36– 43 (in Russian). https://www.doi.org/10.18500/2311-07402020-1-25-36-43