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LINGUO-COGNITIVE MODELING OF DERIVATIVE WORD
SEMANTICS FORMED FROM PRECEDENT NAMES (BASED ON THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE)
Karimova Shakhnoza Ravshanjonovna
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13888492
Abstract:
this article explores the linguo-cognitive mechanisms involved
in the formation and semantic modeling of derivative words from precedent
names in the English language. It focuses on how cognitive tools such as
metaphor and metonymy facilitate the extension of cultural meaning from these
names, resulting in concise linguistic expressions that reflect collective cultural
memory and contextual variability.
Keywords:
precedent names, derivative words, cognitive linguistics,
metaphor, metonymy, cultural memory.
The study of derivative words formed from precedent names in the
English language is a rich area of linguistic research that intersects cognitive
linguistics and cultural studies. Precedent names—names of people, places,
events, or characters that carry significant cultural weight—serve as sources for
creating derivative words with new meanings. These names, often derived from
literature, history, mythology, and popular culture, provide a powerful cognitive
framework for forming new linguistic expressions that reflect collective cultural
memory.
Precedent names, sometimes referred to as iconic or culturally significant
names, carry meanings beyond their literal reference. They act as cognitive
triggers that activate complex associations related to their source. For example,
when someone is called a "Hercules," the reference is not to the mythological
figure directly, but to the qualities of strength and heroism that Hercules
symbolizes in Western culture.
These names serve multiple functions in communication:
1. Summarization of complex ideas: A single name like "Einstein" can
convey intelligence, genius, or scientific brilliance.
2. Cultural references: Precedent names often encapsulate shared
knowledge or collective memories, such as "Napoleonic" referring to someone
ambitious, perhaps overreaching.
3. Moral and evaluative judgments: Names like "Judas" are used
metaphorically to judge someone as a traitor.
The creation of derivative words from precedent names involves several
cognitive mechanisms, including metaphor, metonymy, analogy, and association.
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These mechanisms allow for the transfer of cultural meaning from the original
name to a broader range of contexts, establishing new semantic fields.
1. Metaphor: One of the key cognitive mechanisms in the creation of
derivatives is metaphor. Through metaphor, characteristics associated with the
original name are mapped onto new domains. For example, "Herculean" tasks
are those that require immense effort or strength, metaphorically borrowing
from the image of Hercules. Example: "It was a Herculean effort to complete the
project on time." In this sentence, "Herculean" conveys the idea of extraordinary
strength or perseverance, metaphorically extending the qualities of the
mythological figure to a challenging task.
2. Metonymy: Metonymy involves the substitution of one concept with
another that is closely related. In the case of precedent names, metonymy often
shifts focus from a specific historical or fictional figure to a broader, more
generalized concept. Example: "She’s a real Shakespeare in the making." Here,
"Shakespeare" metonymically represents not the historical playwright himself
but the qualities associated with him—literary talent, creativity, and excellence
in writing.
3. Analogy and association: Precedent names often generate derivatives
through analogical extension, where the name becomes a prototype for a set of
features that are then applied in new contexts. This process relies heavily on
cultural and cognitive associations that the name triggers. Example: "His
behavior was Orwellian." "Orwellian" is derived from the name George Orwell,
whose works like “1984” have come to symbolize totalitarianism, oppressive
surveillance, and manipulation of truth.
The linguo-cognitive modeling of derivative words formed from precedent
names in the English language reveals the complex interplay between language,
culture, and cognition. These derivative words serve as linguistic tools that
condense rich cultural meanings into concise expressions. Through mechanisms
like metaphor, metonymy, and analogy, precedent names extend their semantic
reach and continue to shape the way we communicate.
References:
1.
Croft, William, and D. Alan Cruse. Cognitive Linguistics. Cambridge
University Press, 2004.
2.
Evans, Vyvyan, and Melanie Green. Cognitive Linguistics: An Introduction.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2006.
3.
Lakoff, George, and Mark Johnson. Metaphors We Live By. University of
Chicago Press, 1980.
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4.
Langlotz, Andreas. Idiomatic Creativity: A Cognitive-Linguistic Model of
Idiom-Representation and Idiom-Variation in English. John Benjamins
Publishing, 2006.
