SIGN AS A UNIVERSAL TOOL OF ETHNOS’ LINGUISTIC IDENTITY

Abstract

The article discusses the issue of a sign as a universal instrument of the linguistic identity of an ethnic group. The purpose of the article is to prove that the study of the principles of thinking of local civilizations recorded in symbolic visual images is possible by studying these systems of signs. The author points out the peculiarities of the development of the sign in the history of Semiotics. The concept of sign and symbol as one of the universal tools is characterized. The system of principles of thinking of the most ancient civilizations, which gradually turned into a fi xed symbolic image of written signs, for recording the sound of certain units of language, or certain signifi cant linguistic units, is covered. A large number of examples of ancient writing systems give reason to consider their emergence as a natural result of the development of human society at a certain stage of the formation of ancient civilizations. Attention is focused on the Chinese hieroglyphic writing, which throughout its existence retains ethnogenetic distinctive features through the reproduction of visual images. It has been proved that the theory of Semiotics in the historical sense makes it possible to cognize a sign at the moment, not only its use, but a lso its awareness by certain communities or ethnic groups, outlining its thematic understanding at a certain historical stage. The use of Chinese classical characters in this context can help in deciphering unknown texts.