NATIONALLY-MARKED LEXICAL UNITSAS A MEANS OF REFLECTING CULTURE

Abstract

It is indisputable, that language and culture are closely interrelated. Language is reflection of the culture of the nation, a source of accumulation and consolidation of cultural traditions of the people, the so-called "cultural code of the nation". Hence, the study of language and culture relationship is one of the most topical issues of modern Linguistics, and it is the language that reflects the cultural consciousness of the nation. The article is devoted to the investigation and systematization of various approaches to understanding, comprehending and defining peculiar lexical units that contain information about the culture of native speakers – nationally-marked vocabulary. A number of terms are traditionally applied to such lexical units, the meanings and functions of which are determined by belonging to a certain culture. National-specific vocabulary, falling into the focus of modern scientific interests, is studied as a result of the interaction of language and mentality, language and culture; as a means of reflecting cultural phenomena in language; as the effect of the cultural component on the connotation of the words. Special attention is paid to a number of approaches to understanding and comprehending nationally-labeled vocabulary and, consequently, to the absence of consistency in terminology – in the field of linguistics researchers deal with realia, in the field of translation studies – non-equivalent vocabulary, cultural studies focus on frames and concepts. Despite the terminological equilibristics and lack of the standardized definition, the core essence of nationally-marked words (national-cultural vocabulary) is being clarified – these are the language units that reflect the national and cultural specifics of life, the worldview of a particular ethnic group, national language and cultural community.