RU
Philology. Theory & Practice
  • Original research article
  • April 30, 2020
  • Open access

Conceptual Sphere “Human Being” as a Source of Semantic Derivation in the English Language

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Abstract

The article examines the structure of the conceptual sphere “Human Being” as a source of semantic derivation in the English language. It is shown that the English vocabulary of the conceptual sphere “Human Being” contains polysemantic lexical units with the semes of animateness and gender. These lexical units are subdivided into larger and smaller lexico-semantic groups and subgroups. The conclusion is made that the English verbs of motion and the somatisms nominating human body parts and human organs manifest the highest derivational potential. Scientific originality of the study involves a comprehensive classification of the lexical units of the conceptual sphere “Human Being”.

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Author information

Ol'ga Vladimirovna Tokareva

Saint Petersburg University

About this article

Publication history

  • Received: February 23, 2020.
  • Published: April 30, 2020.

Keywords

  • английский язык
  • семантическая деривация
  • полисемия
  • одушевленность
  • гендер
  • концептуальная сфера
  • антропоцентризм
  • English language
  • semantic derivation
  • polysemy
  • animateness
  • gender
  • conceptual sphere
  • anthropocentrism

Copyright

© 2020 The Author(s)
© 2020 Gramota Publishing, LLC

User license

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)