Artifact Metaphors as Verbal Means of Objectivization of the Concept "Language" in the Philosophical Discourse of W. von Humboldt

Abstract

The research features the metaphorical representations of the language in the individual author's worldview expressed by W. von Humboldt via artifact metaphors. The linguistic personality of the great scientist remains surprisingly understudied, so it seems important to study the language means of verbalizing the basic concepts in his philosophical discourse. The research concentrates on the verbalization of the phenomenon "Language" by means of artifact metaphors in W. von Humboldt’s "On the Difference of the Structure of Human Languages and its Influence on the Spiritual Development of Mankind" (Über die Verschiedenheit des menschlichen Sprachbaues und ihren Einfluss auf die geistige Entwicklung des Menschengeschlechts, 1836) [1]. The analysis of empirical material included the method of linguocognitive analysis, the method of component analysis based on dictionary definitions, the method of interpretative analysis of contexts, conceptual and semantic-cognitive analysis of artifact metaphors, etc. The article reveals some features of the cognitive structure of the phenomenon "Language" on the basis of artifact metaphors "language as tool" and "language as fabric". As a result of the research, the frame structure of the artifact metaphorical models of the language concept has been revealed, as well as the ontological components of the language structuring various types of slots. The basic frames "language as tool" and "language as fabric" objectify the concept "Language", represented by the metaphorical model "Artifact" in the philosophical discourse of W. van Humboldt. The "language as tool" metaphor explicates the correlation of Language with such phenomena such as Spirit, Thought, andMan.The metaphorical identification of language and instrument explores the mediatory power of language in relation to Nation and Spirit. The "language as fabric" metaphor objectifies language as a complex entity, whose relevant features are anthropological qualities dominated by intellectual and sensualistic components in the diversity of their manifestations. Individuality is one of the dominant epistemological features of the concept "Language", represented by the artifact metaphorical model in W. von Humboldt’s philosophical discourse. The study proves a high degree of metaphoricity of W.vonHumboldt's linguistic worldview as a whole. One of the important concepts in his philosophical discourse is the "character of language". The scientist metaphorically "humanizes" the language, giving it individual features inherent only to human. The character of the language emphasizes the inseparable interdependence of Spirit and Nation, in its turn, being influenced by the external (verbal) form of the language.