Conceptual and axiological characteristics of the regional linguocultural concept “бабр” (babr)

The aim of the research is to establish the conceptual and axiological characteristics of the linguocultural concept “Бабр” (Babr, a heraldic beast) and their regional specificity for residents of Irkutsk and the Irkutsk region. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that, for the first time, the conceptual content of the linguocultural concept “Babr” and its features are revealed, taking into account the historical, geographical, and political components presented in the regional local history discourse. The article examines the linguocultural concept “Babr”, which denotes the animal depicted on the coat of arms of the city and region. This heraldic symbol has undergone changes, and as a result, a certain mythological creature has appeared. As a result of the study, it was found that, in conceptual terms, in Russian, “babr” is understood as a tiger – a wild animal belonging to the cat family, living on the Amur River and in Siberia, ferocious, strong, with a valuable skin. The semantic side of the concept is conditioned by the historical events of the 19th century, the political situation of that time, as well as the peculiarities of the geographical position of this territory, as a result of which a specific regional conceptual feature of the concept arises – mythologicity. In addition to the main meaning, due to heraldry – the strength, power, and wealth of Siberia – the concept of “babr” carries such axiological components as pride in the uniqueness of this region, as well as irony about the appearance of this animal on the coat of arms of the city and region in exactly the form in which it exists.