The purpose of this study is to analyze the meaning of symbols, the symbolic world in linguistics. Using the methods of observation, analysis, synthesis and interpretation, the author determines the category of symbols in linguistic-cognitive research. The study delineates connection between linguistic image of the universe and symbolic categories of empirical cognition and also describes the language symbols as an indicator of the ethno-cultural association potential of a single language in different countries. The study shows that symbolization in a language affects the role of the national-cultural-cognitive association in the formation of a unified concept and image of the world language. Thus, the practical value of the research is that the process of symbolization sheds light on the most characteristic features of a language symbol, namely the newness, communicativeness and cognitive activity.