Symbolary of Regional Identity: Research Issues

The article deals with the issues explored by a new branch of the science of language and culture interaction – territorial linguaculturology; the prospects of regional identification study with the focus on verbal means are noted. The identification process is proved to be associated with the branding of knowledge and symbolic means expressing it. The article considers the concepts of regional identity and regional subculture symbolary. The article identifies the range of verbal means of regional identity and their obligatory characteristics: each of these means should have a precedent nature, have a pronounced presentational function and a high text-forming potential. The chronological and axiological aspects have been found to be relevant in describing the means of cultural identification. The ideographic structure is exemplified by the symbolary of the Tula regional culture. The article identifies the cultural and cognitive dominants of this simbolary: defence of the Motherland, industry, culture, spiritual life, socially useful activities. The paper establishes the linguistic and cultural functions of the verbal means of regional identification: integrating one's own and contrasting them with others, branding of regional culture, cumulating knowledge of one's own identity. While analyzing the components of the sememe of the verbal means for regional identification, the specificity of this process is determined. It consists in correlating knowledge with a particular category, in determining the key feature of the phenomenon, in its evaluation based on conventional cultural norms, and in emotional experiencing.