The article describes the experience of the analysis of the concept «folk» with the use of the semiotics methodology, caused by the multi-level structure and rich interpretive possibilities of this concept. The author identifies several attributes of the concept «folk», changing over the XIX and XX centuries: insularity/openness of the concept borders, the opposition of the forming elements and the presence of permanent/variable semantic connotations. On this basis, it is proved that the concept «folk» is a translator of social relations model and the level of national consciousness.

semiotics, sign, multilevel structure, concept «folk», interpretive possibilities

1. Bunin I.A. Okayannye dni. M.: Izdvo «AZ'», 1991. 108 s.
2. Varlamov A.N. Myslennyi volk. M.: Izdvo «AST», 2014. 512 s.
3. Vorkachev S.G., Vorkacheva E.A. Slovo «narod» v aforisticheskikh vyskazyvaniyakh «Vestnik Moskovskogo gosudarstvennogo oblastnogo universiteta» (Elektronnyi zhurnal). 2013. No. 1. URL: http://evestnikmgou.ru/Articles/View/278 (data obrashcheniya: 01.09.2015).
4. ZHuravleva A.I. Nekrasov V.N. Grigorovich v russkoi literature Grigorovich D.V. Sochineniya. M.: KHudozh. lit., 1988. T. I. pp. 3 – 20.
5. Ivanov A. Vechnyi zov. Roman v dvukh knigakh. Kniga 2. M.: Izdvo «FOSKOM», 1993. 510 s.
6. Krys'ko V.G. Etnopsikhologicheskii slovar'. M.: MPSI, 1999. 343 s.
7. Leonov L.M. Vzyatie Velikoshumska. M.: KHudozhestvennaya literatura, 1984. 128 s.
8. Turgenev I.S. Zapiski okhotnika. M.: KHudozhestvennaya literatura, 1984. 254 s.