The article indicates that the study of the semantic-communicative
component of hymns makes it possible to identify performative frameworks –
“pillows”, on which the foundation of speech activity rests. Thus, the obligatory
semantic-communicative component of the hymns is informing the deity about
his/her qualities, in other words, it is praising. The article reviewed three hymns
written in Old English (“The Kentish Hymn”, “Cædmon’s Hymn”) and Early
Middle English (“Godric’s Hymn”). The author focuses on paganism in Old
English hymns. Thus, the work emphasizes that at the dawn of Christianity, for
a smooth transition from paganism to Christianity, the image of Jesus Christ was
presented as the image of a leader (Cyning – Leader), while believers were represented
as His warriors. The cross as the main Christian symbol often appears
made of wood and is identified with the cosmic world tree growing right into
heaven. Most liturgical texts compare a cross to a pillar, mountain, or ladder.
Thus, the center of the world is a part of the Christian picture of the world. Consequently,
considering the semiotic aspect of communication, it can be assumed
that the communicative task proceeded from the fact that the new information
was understood through its transmission within the framework of the old image
already known to native speakers. Communication was based on a sociocultural
basis due to interindividual psychology. Thus, the replacement of the central
cosmic symbol of a world tree with a cross that retains the features of a pagan
symbol is an example of accessible communication. The task of transmitting
information in time is to transmit information about an important Christian element
of culture – the cross as a symbol of Christianity. The pagan image of the
world tree is completely unimportant from the point of view of the semiotic
aspect of information transfer, but it is important from the point of view
of communication in the generation of the Germans who have just adopted
Christianity.
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