Cultural codes in language: influence on worldview and thinking

Abstract

This paper examines the role of language as a fundamental tool for storing and translating cultural codes. The author analyzes the relationship in the triad “Language – Thinking – Culture”, based on the provisions of the Sepir – Whorf hypothesis and modern research in the field of linguoculturology. The main attention is paid to the classification and functioning of key cultural codes: somatic, biomorphic, artefact-material and spatiotemporal. Using the example of phraseological units and metaphors in Russian, English, Tatar and Chinese, it is demonstrated how the national mentality captures a specific vision of the world. In particular, the difference in the nomination of natural objects and the conceptualization of time is considered. The article concludes that language not only reflects the prevailing cultural realities, but also actively forms cognitive patterns of perception. At the same time, it emphasizes that despite the uniqueness of linguistic filters, intercultural understanding remains possible due to the shared objective human experience. The study highlights the importance of learning foreign languages as a means of expanding worldview and enhancing personal adaptability in a global context. Furthermore, the role of educational environments in developing intercultural competence and the need to integrate linguocultural approaches into language teaching are emphasized.