DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2021.6.35901

Abstract:   The article discusses “Word of the Year” phenomenon in the English and Russian languages. The analysis is based on the data of modern sociolinguistic phenomenon – “Word of the Year” campaign. The author employs descriptive and comparative data processing methods for the period 2016–2020 from the portals of British English-language explanatory dictionaries Cambridge Dictionary, Oxford Dictionary, Collins Dictionary as well as Yandex Internet portal Pushkin State Russian Language Institute, Expert Council of the Center for Creative Development of the Russian Language headed by Mikhail Epstein. The article aims to find out whether a particular word, word of the year, as a linguistic unit, can reflect the essence of the annual life cycle of a country, and as a lexical unit – determine the linguistic aspect, actual impact on the language. Based on the analysis of acquired data, the author presents a table with classification of words of the year into conceptual milestones that indicate the important areas of social life – economic-political, sociopolitical, socio-psychological, environmental, healthcare, post-pandemic, entertainment and recreation, where the semantic field of words of the year must reflect the events in the corresponding sphere. The conclusion is made that “Word of the Year” as a linguistic unit convey the conceptual identity of annual cycle of the particular society or language, by creating new set expressions and mainstream words with semantic increment; while as a lexical unit – shapes semantic dominants, determines linguistic aspect by replenishing lexical resource, and has impact on the language. Words of the year not only reflect the crucial political, economic, sociocultural events and phenomena that take place in social life during a particular time interval, but also set new, significant elements of linguocultural worldview mobile in a constantly changing semantic system of the language.  

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0749.2021.5.35660

Abstract: This article examines the concept of “wedding” and related traditions in the Russian and foreign worldviews. Using the Russian-language and English-language explanatory dictionaries, the author analyzes the meaning of the concept of “wedding”, gives a brief description of some aspects of the wedding ceremony of the past on the example of Russia, Hungary and Great Britain; as well as provides the results of the original survey created in the Russian and English languages and conducted in electronic form on the platforms Survio and GoogleForms, which determined the attitude towards wedding traditions and customs in Russia and abroad. The survey involved unmarried 120 people, aged from 17 to 26; among them, 60 people are the residents of Russia (Russians) and 60 people are the residents of foreign countries of different nationalities – Bulgarians, Hungarians, Italians, Mexicans, Venezuelans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Nigerians, and citizens of the United Arab Emirates. Based on the conducted survey and dictionary sampling, the author concludes that despite the identical semantic content of the concept in different languages, the national concept spheres are vary depending on the customs characteristic to each nation. If in the past, the wedding was a grand event with lots of guests and the observance of all the necessary national customs and traditions, then modern society suggests that wedding should be a memorable event, however rather unpretentious. All respondents have certain knowledge about wedding traditions and customs of their nation that should be observed and kept dearly; however most of them see their wedding day among just closest relatives and friends.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0749.2021.4.35359

Abstract: This article determines the frequency of using the elements of construction of the compound nominal predicate “copulative verb + participle” in the publicistic speech. Considering the fact that in the English language participle is divided into two types – participle I (present tense) and the participle II (past tense), the article explores the use of 12 copulative – appear, become, get, go, grow, feel, keep, look, prove, remain, seem, sound in combination with both types of participle. The author also examined the dictionary entries for the verb keep as most controversial in determination of the following infinitive form with the suffix -ing. The article provides the points of view of the linguists noting that the terms “gerund” and “participle I”, inherited from the grammatical tradition are unsuitable, and suggest to consider the infinitive forms (participle I and gerund) as the single -ing form due to somewhat overlap of their functions, homonymity  and difficulty in distinguishing them. Therefore, participle I, as an element following the copulative verb with the suffix –ing is designated in the article as -ing form. Using the methods of continuous sampling and quantitative analysis on the material of the British online news platforms, such as BBC News, The Guardian, The Evening Standard, and The Express, for the period from January 2020 to March 2021, the author established that in the constructions of the compound nominal predicate “copulative verb + -ing form”, "copulative verb + participle II” in the publicistic style texts, the most common copulative verbs are get, keep, feel, become, remain; participle II has the highest frequency as a binding element of the compound nominal predicate. The research involved 200,000 words.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0749.2021.2.35082

Abstract: This article examines the compound nominal predicate in the modern English language for determination of its most commonly used structural components – copulative verbs and copular (nominal) part (copular components) in the publicistic style. A brief review is given on the compound nominal predicate, literary speech style, publicistic speech style, degree of development of the problem. The research material is comprised of the British online news resources – BBC News and The Guardian. The texts of news articles on various topics were selected for the period from January 2020 to January 2021. The scope of research material contains 60,000 words. Attention is focused on the copulative verbs, such as appear, become, get, go, grow, feel, keep, look, prove, remain, seem, sound. On the examples from texts, the author demonstrates the application of the listed copulative verbs in line with various copular components in the compound nominal predicate. The obtained results allow concluding that in the publicistic text, the most common copulative verbs in the compound nominal predicate are: become, remain, get, feel; the most common copular component in the compound nominal predicate is the adjective, noun, participle and dependent clause.

DOI: 10.7256/2454-0749.2021.1.34858

Abstract: This article discusses the meaning of the important to any culture concept of “success”. Etymology of the lexeme “success” in Russian and English languages and its lexical meaning according to most reputable Russian and English explanatory dictionaries are analyzed. Based on the conducted analysis, the authors outline the common meanings, such as achievement and implementation of the set goal, ability to achieve successful results, certain career achievements. The article provides the results of survey carried out by private Strayer University, USA, according to which success is the realization of personal potential, good relationships, happiness, aspirations and achievement of the set goals. In order to compare the attitude towards success in the Russian Federation and the United States, polling was conducted in the universities of Moscow Region (Academy of Social Management, Moscow Region State University), which revealed that 15% of respondents believe that success is good relationships and happiness. Despite the detected differences, the authors conclude that the concept of “success” has a broader meaning than just financial wealth, luck and power, and thus, support the researchers from Strayer University in amending the dictionary entry on the concept of “success” not only in English, but in Russian language as well.