Culture generating texts: functions, genres, authors

Abstract

The paper deals with culture generating texts treated as speech products corresponding to dominant features of civilization in cultural history. Three types of such texts - sacral regulations, mass circulation products and virtual net messages - have radically changed the idea of authorship and corresponding attitudes of public to texts. The first text type brought to life selected priests who were regarded as keepers of sacral knowledge to be transmitted to coming generations, the second text type initiated numerous artisans who produced various one-time texts suitable for everyday purposes, the third text type generated illusionists who launch secondary texts through the world electronic network for the sake of carnival play with life. The characteristics of three types of text as indicators of culture have been described on the material of aphorisms. Autosemantic sentences of the first type are usually expressed as manifestations of general truth or common norms of behavior, the second type phrases function as trivial observations or specific recommendations in particular situations, whereas the third type texts have a paradoxical nature or are used as banter expressions uttered to fill the gaps in conversation. Sentences of the first type make the core golden reserve of human wisdom, and they are often used in situations of social inequality when people demonstrate their experience and right to give lessons to others. Sentences of the second type are very important for everyday routine life, and they appear in corresponding habitual situations. Sentences of the third type are applied mainly in interactions which require a critical reaction to any type of edification, either moral or utilitarian, their aim is to establish equality as such by means of ridicule of any kind of self-admiration.