Information Theory of Consciousness as the Basis for the Conception of a Proper Name Meaning Spiral Development

Abstract

Interdisciplinary research in the field of consciousness and ways of its representation using verbal and nonverbal codes seems to be particularly fruitful at the intersection of linguistics and philosophy, psychology and biology, medicine and neuroscience. Linguistic consciousness is considered in the works of E.S. Kubryakova (2012), R.I. Pavilionis (1983), L.S. Vygodsky (2018), A.N. Leontiev (1975). The information theories of consciousness in philosophy are analyzed in the works of D.A. Fodor (1987), F. Dretske (1981), D.I. Dubrovsky (2015), D. Chalmers (2013). The information theory of consciousness is applied as the basis of the conception of the spiral development of the meaning of a proper name. The concept of onomastic knowledge is analyzed, the conceptual complex structures, which serve as a basis for the mental representations of onomastic knowledge, are given. The concept of onomastic consciousness is introduced as part of the linguistic consciousness responsible for the formation and development of onomastic competence. The definition of onomastic competence is given as the ability to encode information using proper names, both of individualizing and characterizing nature, as well as the ability to manipulate proper names in all variety of systemic and discursive functions to achieve the goal of communication. The analysis of the cognitive-functional specifics of proper names is given on the examples of the novels “Piranesi” by S. Clark and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” by Q. Tarantino. The specifics of the proper name as an objectifier of consciousness and onomastic competence as an indicator of the formation and development of onomastic consciousness are analyzed. According to the information theory of consciousness, onomastic consciousness determines the meaning of proper names.

References

1. Boldyrev N.N. 2009. Konceptual’naya osnova yazyka [The Conceptual Basis of the Language]. Kognitivnye issledovaniya yazyka. Vyp. IV. Konceptualizaciya mira v yazyke: kollektiv. monogr. Moscow, I-nt yazykoznaniya RAN; Tambov: Izdatel’skij dom TGU im. G.I. Derzhavina. (In Russ.)

2. Vygotskij L.S. 2018. Myshlenie i rech’ [Thinking and Speech]. Piter: Mastera psihologii. (In Russ.)

3. Dubrovsky D.I. 2015. The problem of “Consciousness and the brain”: a theoretical solution [The Problem of “Consciousness and Brain”: a Theoretical Solution]. Moscow, “Canon+”. (In Russ.)

4. Ivanov D.V. 2013. Priroda fenomenal’nogo soznaniya [The Nature of Phenomenal Consciousness]. Moscow, Knizhnyj dom “LIBROKOM”. (In Russ.)

5. Kubryakova E.S. 2012. V poiskah sushchnosti yazyka: Kognitivnye issledovaniya [In Search of the Essence of Language: Cognitive Research]. Moscow, Znak. (In Russ.)

6. Leont’ev A.N. 1975. Deyatel’nost’. Soznanie. Lichnost’ [Activity. Conscience. Personality]. Moscow, Politizdat, 1975. (In Russ.)

7. Molchanova G.G. 2020. Tipy i tekhniki memetiki kak mekhanizma formirovaniya novogo znaniya [Types and Techniques of Memetics as a Mechanism for the Formation of New Knowledge]. Moscow State University Bulletin. Series 19. Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, no. 2, pp. 9–22. (In Russ.)

8. Molchanova G.G. 2021. Intertekstual’nost’ i mifotekhnologii v postmodernistskom tekste [Intertextuality and Mythotechnologies in the Postmodern Text]. Moscow State University Bulletin. Series 19. Linguistics and Intercultural Communication, no. 1, pp. 9–18. (In Russ.)

9. Pavilyonis R.I. 1983. Problema smysla: Logiko-funkcional’nyj analiz yazyka [The Problem of Meaning: Logical-Functional Analysis of the Language]. Moscow, Mysl’. (In Russ.)

10. Pishchal’nikova V.A., Sonin A.G. 2017. Obshchee yazykoznanie [General Linguistics]. Moscow, R. Valent. (In Russ.)

11. Chalmers D. 2013. Soznayushchij um. V poiskah fundamental’noj teorii [The Conscious Mind. In Search of a Fundamental Theory]. Per. V.V. Vasil’eva. Moscow, URSS: Knizhnyj dom “LIBRIKOM”. (In Russ.)

12. Chernigovskaya T.V. 2016. Cheshirskaya ulybka kota SHryodingera: yazyk i soznanie [The Cheshire Smile of Schrodinger’s Cat: Language and Consciousness.]. Moscow, Izdatel’skij Dom YASK: YAzyki slavyanskoj kul’tury. (In Russ.)

13. Shcherbak A.S. 2012. Onomasticheskij koncept kak struktura organizacii i hraneniya onomasticheskih znanij [Onomastic Concept as a Structure of Organization and Storage of Onomastic Knowledge] // Kognitivnye issledovaniya yazyka. Vyp. Kategorizaciya mira v yazyke: kollektiv. monogr. Moscow, I-nt yazykoznaniya RAN; Tambov: Izdatel’skij dom TGU im. G.I. Derzhavina.