Linguistic markedness of axiological dominants of French-language paroemias

Aim. This article examines the paroemias of French-speaking countries from a linguaxiological perspective. The aim of the study is to present the axiological dominants of the proverbs of Frenchspeaking countries and to highlight the methods of linguistic markedness. The subject of the work is the paroemiological fund of French-speaking countries, recorded in lexicographic sources. Methodology. The sources of material for the author’s card index, which includes more than 250 units and is obtained through continuous sampling, are electronic databases of French-language paroemias (Les proverbes par pays (L'Internaute); proverbes-francais). To achieve the goal, elements of linguacultural and cognitive analysis, descriptive-analytical and comparative methods, methods of component and contextual analysis are used. Results. The study revealed that the linguaxiological potential of proverbs from French-speaking countries is represented primarily through core markers that explicitly and, less frequently, implicitly nominate the following axiological dominants: “Knowledge”, “Labor”, “Health”, “Wealth”, “Happiness”, “Family”, “Beauty”, “Religion”, “Word”, “Wisdom”, “Food”, “Hospitality” (in Moroccan paroemias). In a number of cases, the specified values enter into valence relationships and can be assessed by comparing them with each other, as well as by means of an explicitly expressed figurative comparison. Ethnic specificity is embodied through ethnolinguistic markers – nominations of representatives of the population, animal world and food products in certain regions. Markers of various types can exhibit axiological syncretism if they indicate a direct or associative connection with two or more values. Research implications. The theoretical significance of the study is determined by its contribution to the systematization of French-language paroemiological material based on the application of the author’s methodology to identify its axiological potential. The practical significance lies in the possibility of using the results in lexicographic practice – in compiling dictionaries of paroemies of French-speaking countries.