Verbs of perception in regional documents of the middle of the 18th century (on material of “Mikhailovsky stanitsa ataman” fund)

Specificity of perception verb functions in the documents from “Mikhailovsky Stanitsa Ataman” fund, that are referred to the 1743-1755 period, is considered with an integrated approach to the analysis of language units. It is stated that verbs of visual perception and aural impression perform differently in the documents under study. The verbs of visual perception are mainly used in administrative and notifying and pleading documents; in their meanings the combination of the components that are referred to voluntary visual perception and judgment of information obtained with the eyesight is indicated. The verbs of aural impression can be observed in administrative and judicial, as well as investigative documents. In administrative documents the verbs of voluntary aural perception mainly realize direct senses. However, in judicial and investigative documents the verbs of involuntary aural perception demonstrate syncretism of senses, that is called a fusion of components caused by aural impression and cognitive activity. It is proved that linguistic features of Don Cossack Host documents are largely determined by extralinguistic factors with a function (purpose) of the document in social communication viewed as a major among them. The functional orientation of the document defines selection of language units and specificity of their usage in composite and conceptual parts.