Predicate and Objective Syntaxeme in the Semantic and Syntactic Structure of a Sentence in Modern Greek

The relevance of the proposed study arose from the necessity to define the correlation between the morphologic and syntactic categories of the verb; disclose the functional characteristics of this part of speech that defines the structure of the sentence, the implementation of word formation intentions of the word and construction of the text as an integral unit of the communicative syntax. The article observes the major types of predicates, existing in Modern Greek. The author has coined the lexical content, morphological arrangement as well as the syntactic behavior of objective syntaxemes. At the semantic and syntactic level, the objective syntaxemes hold the position of right-sided strongly controlled member of the sentence. Prototype objective syntaxeme is the causative with a categorical seme expressing motivation of occurrence of the signs of substances. In Modern Greek, causative verbs are represented by the verbs of one lexeme; the verbs of different lexemes; the verbs created using word-formation instruments. Causatives represented by the verbs of one lexeme are interpreted by author as verbs with the variable valence. Verbs with the variable valence include those in which the morphological form itself creates the transitive and intransitive constructions without changing its voice affiliation Word-formation transformative of verbs with the variable valence is represented by the adjective-based and noun-derived verbs. This description enables the preparation of the functional grammar of Modern Greek, which is an urgent task of Modern hellinistic. In common language sense, the interpretation of the study results is important to identify the correlation between the semantic and syntactic structure of the sentence, to determine the semantic types of predicates and to classify the objective syntaxemes.

Methodological Corpora Toolkit and its Possibilities for Modelling Cognitive and Semantic Matrices

The article substantiates the necessity and effectiveness of involvement of corpus tools for studying the semantics of a word from the standpoint of interpretation of its cognitive nature, whose representatives have defended the encyclopaedic nature of meaning in general, unlike the views of scholars of classical structural semantics. In this connection, the correctness of Plungyan’s hypothesis that linguistics “outlines the contours of a new model of language, which is significantly and fundamentally different from the former models postulated in the last quarter of the XX century,” is commented on. Given this understanding of linguistic meaning and its role in presenting a new model of language, it has been suggested that it is important to study it in a broad and narrow context, in particular in terms of the combinatorial potencies of words – their lexical and grammatical compatibility, closely linked in corpus linguistics with such concepts such as collocations and colligations. The definitions of both terms have been clarified, and convincing arguments have been made in favour of the fact that collocations are conditionally free combinations of words used to characterize stereotypical situations and are displayed in the language of the native speakers in the form of ready phrases with inherent semantics, while colligations are limited by the morphological-syntactic frame of a certain structure. The methodological experience of corpus studies of colligations and collocations is analysed and proposed to be used to construct cognitive-semantic matrices of phrasal verbs in English. The main focus is on the capabilities of the Sketch Engine corpus system, in particular the availability of tools (Collocations, Word sketch, Thesaurus, Clustering, Sketch diff, etc.) that allow to integrate the classical (structural) method of distribution-statistical analysis of phrase-verbal collocations and colligations, and the method of lexico-semantic clustering, and the method of combinatorial syntagmatics. A hypothetical conclusion has been formulated that these and other procedural methods together will facilitate the disclosure of cognitive-semantic connections between the units under study with quantitative and statistical calculations of their performance. It is proved that the corpus-oriented principle of combinatorial syntagmatics becomes the leading methodological principle of modern cognitive-interpretative semantics.

Concept Modern Woman as Cognitive and Semantic Universal in Related Languages

This typological study presents the description of the concept Modern Woman as cognitive and semantic universal in related languages. This is carried out due to the description of the macrostructure of the concept that predetermines the distribution of selected characteristics according to structural macrocomponent of the concept – imaginative, informational component and interpretation field; categorical structure of the concept, which presents the cognitive hierarchy of the classification criteria, conceptualize the consequent subject or phenomenon; the field organization of the concept. There were analyzed the approaches to the definition of the term “concept” at first, including semantic, cognitive and cultural ones.Basing onto the typology of concepts suggested by Sternin, who identifies three main types of concepts: concepts-representations, concepts and gestalts, we decided to make an attempt to analyze the categorical structure of the concept-prototype, concept-frame, concept-scenario / script and concept-scheme in related languages, but we have done it on the example of fiction by the contemporary British writer Cecilia Ahern “The Time of my Life” and its translations into Russian and Ukrainian.Identification of cognitive classification features of the concept-prototype “Modern Woman” allowed us to note the following features in related languages: physiological features mark the conceptual features of biological sex, age, appearance; status-role features indicate social status, status and role in society; functional features indicate the type of activity or occupation; relational features position of a person in relation to other persons or groups of persons; mental and functional features that indicate emotional state, mental abilities, health status, etc.; axiological features that characterize the internal properties of a person, character traits, demeanor; affective and emotive signs indicate an emotional attitude to the subject: approval-condemnation / displeasure, acceptance-rejection, irritation, irony, etc. The main slots of the concept frame “Modern Woman” are beauty, fashion, love and sex, work and life, lifestyle, news and politics, career, psychology and relationships. Concepts-scenarios and concepts-schemes are also represented by the corresponding episodes and images. So, the concept is perceived as the basic unit of human memory, which structures the mental space of a person, it is cognitive and semantic universal onto the cognitive level in the formation of lexical meaning in such related languages as English, Ukrainian, Russian.

Etymological Stratigraphy of the Lexemes lacuna / лакуна in English and Ukrainian

The article deals with etymological versions of lacuna in English and its Ukrainian лакуна counterpart. It has become terminologically important in the process of functioning and has become the basic term for the new science of lacunology. It is revealed that the lexeme of lacuna / лакуна was borrowed into English and Ukrainian from Latin, but at the same time it should be considered as a result of the semantic development of IE. *laku, in particular, of its primary definitions as “reservoir”, “dried lake”, “hole”, “void” and others Etymological nests of derivatives related to the words lacuna / лакуна have been constructed to demonstrate their genetic relationship for the common IE. root *laku / *laqü-, with the subsequent transition to the Proto-German *lögr and the Proto-Slavic – *loky. It is established that by semantic shift of the semantic chain “water”, “lake”, “pit”, “hole” in the original semantic structure of these words an archisema ‘absence’ was formed through a dichotomy повний [з водою] :: порожний [без води]. The component analysis of differential and integral family connections of the archiseme of ‘absence’ in modern naive pictures of the world is made. Based on them their further terminologisation in scientific pictures of the world have been recorded.It is proved that in the scientific pictures of the world these semes have lost their original topographic value (reservoirs and their devastated state) and have been transformed into seven ‘pass’, ‘missing element’, ‘missing form’, ‘gap’. The terms “lake”, “pit”, “swamp” and “sea” are no longer associated with the word lacuna / лакуна. Developing its original meanings and acquiring new differential families associated with the archiseme of ‘absence’ and new synonyms, the notion of lacuna / лакуна has become a term in philosophy, mathematics, medicine and linguistics.

Nomination as a Cognitive Process in the Sphere of Professional Activity

The article outlines the basic concepts of a cognitive approach in the study of language, including such a process as nomination, which is a topical issue for modern linguistics as well. The nomination is seen as a multidimensional phenomenon and a complex thought-and-speech process that objectifies the cognitive features of human activity and the structure properties of his or her consciousness.There is substantiated the importance of the cognitive-onomasiological approach involvement to the study of the nominative act, as well as there is characterized the development of the science onomasiology as a way to linguocognitivism. The assumption is made that the key term of the onomasiology is the concept of nomination, which needs to be interpreted in the gnoseo-semiotic and linguistic aspects. Nomination is characterized as a process that is constantly accompanied by human’s cognition the world, so the use of cognitive tools in the analysis of nominative units extends the boundaries of research and especially in the direction of terminological nomination.The terminological nomination also includes the processes of conceptualization and verbalization, but of professional knowledge, and it is the result of cognitive activity of specialists. The terminological unit represents the essential qualities of the nominated object that is why it is important to analyze the motivation of the meaning, as well as the notion of the internal form of the term, which is a formal-semantic relation of the nomination.As a result, it is stated that the ability of a linguistic sign is potentially limitless and depends on the person's cognition of reality. In addition to this,the nomination in the cognitive aspect is a verbalized form of knowledge about the world in general or within the framework of the certain professional activity of a person in particular.

The Internet-aphorisms as simulacrum and a precedent genre

Internet aphorisms are considered as unique phenomena of virtual communication. The definition of the Internet aphorism, which is understood as a kind of small-format text that is characteristic of modern media. It is focused on the distinction between aphorisms and online aphorisms. It is specified that the distinctive features of the Internet aphorism are due to their interrelation with the cultural and value spheres of a man, and, as a consequence, its national marking, speed and quantity of its appearance, which indicates both the temporary nature of this genre form and the dynamic of its life cycle.It is commented on the question of the authorship of these entities, which is in opposition to author specified – author unknown. It has been found that aphorism on the Internet is created without a linguistic context, but always functions as part of cultural, social and individual contexts. Internet aphorism, which is created, perceived and widespread by people, reflects their views and mentality, and can be regarded as an expression of that part of the philosophical system that is always bound to the individual value system of man. The Internet aphorism is a polycodic or creolised text that distinguishes it significantly from the aphorism genre. It is also suggested to consider the Internet aphorism as a simulacrum and a precedent genre. Internet aphorism as a precedent genre correlates with an aphorism in form, but its content lacks intellectual depth. At the same time, it is a simulacrum because it is built on the asymmetry between the expression plane and the content plane. In addition, the Internet aphorisms are differentiated according to its gender specificity.As a conclusion, it is stated that the Internet aphorisms are a new independent phenomenon of virtual communication with their unique characteristics and inter-genre specificity of simulacrum and precedent text.

Conceptual Metaphors in the Pentateuch Texts of English Bible (New King James Version)

The research study explored the Pentateuch texts to elicit conceptual metaphors that allow understanding of metaphysical (sacred) reality, and to characterize essential for its conceptualization cognitive structures. The analysis of the consistent patterns of metaphorical expansion from source-domain physical reality onto target-domain metaphysical reality of the Pentateuch was carried out within the framework of theolinguistics. It has revealed that onto transcendental (sacred) reality are metaphorically mapped as source domains: 1) tri-dimensional space (verticality, centre-periphery, distance, place, object, container, etc.); 2) human (physical, physiological, psychological features); 3) human interpersonal relationships (family relationships, social roles, status, authority, etc.). It has been proven that understanding of metaphysical reality is framed by the following conceptual metaphors: GOD’S STATUS IS UP, GOD IS OBJECT, BOWING DOWN IS BEING SUBJECT TO CONTROL, BOWING DOWN IS DOWN, BLESSING IS UP, STATUS IS UP, LAW STATUS IS DOWN, IMPORTANCE IS PRECEDENCE, THE TREE OF LIFE / THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE ARE CENTRAL / IMPORTANT, LEARNING IS EATING THE FRUIT, CROSS IS CENTRAL/IMPORTANT, GOD IS OUTSIDE TIME, GOD IS OUTSIDE CREATION, HOLINESS IS CLEANLINESS, CLEAN PEOPLE IS HOLY PEOPLE, HOLINESS IS PROXIMITY TO GOD, THE WORD OF GOD IS BREAD, ACCESSIBILITY TO GOD IS PROXIMITY, GOD’S COMMANDMENTS ARE CENTRAL, HEAVENS IS UP, HEAVENS IS THE PLACE, HEAVENS IS CONTAINER, ATONING BLOOD IS GIFT, GOD IS PERSON, GOD IS CREATOR, GOD IS KING, GOD IS FATHER, GOD IS JUDGE, GOD IS SHEPHERD, GOD IS THE MAN OF WAR, GOD IS HUSBAND OF HIS PEOPLE, GOD IS HELPER, GOD IS HEALER, GOD IS FRIEND, GOD IS THE LORD, GOD IS PROVIDER, GOD IS THE GUIDE, GOD IS THE SOJOURNER, COVENANT IS STRUCTURE, COVENANT IS OBJERCT, IDOLATRY IS ADULTERY, ANGEL IS PERSON, SINNING IS DEVIATING / SWIRLING FROM GOD’S WAY, GOD’S COMMENDMENDS ARE THE PATH, MORAL CHOICE IS CHOICE OF WAY, LEADING A MORAL LIFE IS MAKING A JOURNEY ON GOD’S WAY.The results indicated high relevance of theolinguistics, which adds a theological dimension to the investigation and secures the proper understanding of religious texts under investigation.

Diachronic Interpretation of Phonomorphological and Semantic Regularities of Nostratic (Based on *HuḲa “eye”)

The diachronic interpretation of Indo-European *hṷekṷ- / *heuk- “eye, to see”, Altaic *uka- “to notice, to understand” and Afro-Asiatic *Hwq- “to know”, originating from Nostratic *HuḲa “eye, to see”, allowed to establish both divergent and convergent types of linguistic relationship among them, for which the close (Indo-European, Altaic, Afro-Asiatic) and remote / distant (Indo-European / Afro-Asiatic and Altaic) types of language relationship have been established, depending on the action of the main phonomorphological and semantic regularities.The degree of manifestation of phonomorphological laws indicates a close type of language relationship among Indo-European, Altaic and Afro-Asiatic language families. They are: 1) the law on the three-letter / three-phonemic root structure of an archetype (according to E. Benvenist), which corresponds to the law on the consonant root (according to A G. Belova): it helped to fix three phonemes in Indo-European *hṷekṷ- / *heuk-, Altaic *uka- and Afro-Asiatic *Hwq-, as well as to trace the reflexes of this structure in the genetic data material of these language families; 2) the law of the mora is fixed in the Indo-European *hṷekṷ- / *heuk-, Altaic *uka- and Afro-Asiatic *Hwq-, the forms of which correspond to a monosyllable structure, and mono- and multisyllable structures have been observed in the genetic data material; 3) the process of spirantisation consists in weakening the consonant phoneme /q/, i.e. the reflection /q/ into /k/ and /x/; 4) the process of “pharyngisation” can be traced at the end of monosyllabic words, where it could occur by analogy with those forms of the word where the consonant was intervocal; 5) the law on the pronunciation of short vowel phonemes /a/ and /u/, where such features are represented: 1) the degree of solution of the oral cavity; 2) hardness / softness (low tonality / high tonality); 3) absence or presence of labilisation; 6) the law of prosody, which consists in the realisation of stress in accordance with various languages; 7) the law of an open syllable.The degree of phonomorphological manifestations indicates a remote / distant form of language relationship between Indo-European / Afro-Asiatic and Altaic language families, where one of the provisions of the phonetic prohibitions of Jucquо, i.e. when the initial and final laryngals are not allowed, is traced in the Indo-European *hṷekṷ- / *heuk- and Afro-Asiatic *Hwq-.The degree of manifestation of semantic laws indicates a close type of language relationship among Indo-European, Altaic and Afro-Asiatic language families, where 2 lexico-semantic variants (LSV) were fixed: 1) somatism; 2) action. If in the Indo-European *hṷekṷ- / *heuk- “eye, to see” 2 LSVs are fixed: 1) somatism; 2) action, but in the Altaic *uka- “to notice, to understand”, including Turkic *uk(ā)- “to raise, to listen” and Mongolian *uk- “to notice”, as well as the Afro-Asiatic *Hwq- “to know” – only 1 LSV – 2) action.