Lexical category “document” in the cognitive aspect

The article deals with the peculiarities of categorization of reality in special and naive language conceptualization of the world. The category is understood as a lexical class as the result of the process of categorization. It is noted that the lexical category “document” has a hierarchical structure, the basic level of which is presented by types of documents, coinsiding generally in different variants of the Russian language conceptualization of the world. Linguistic studies devoted to the category “document” reveal its complexity and rich immanent structure. The author of the article also analyzes multiple definitions of the term “document” offered by various scholars. Categorial characteristics of objects are allocated, it is established that their set depends on a field of activity. Essential signs of the document in official, professional communication is informativity, existence of a material data carrier, standard form of its representation by means of requisites, use in legal relations or business activity. In a naive language conceptualization of the world such signs as written data representation form, paper material carrier, functions ability to testify, to confirm, to certify something are staticized. It is proved that interpretation of the category “Document” differs in a professional and naive language conceptualization of the world. Distinctions cover superordinatny and subordinatny levels of the category.