105
Issue 15(50), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 20.06.2025
SCIENCE SHINE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
SEMANTIC STRUCTURE OF ADJECTIVES IN MODERN RUSSIAN
LANGUAGE
LIUYUQIAN
Master's student at Uzbek State University of World Languages, Tashkent
Abstract:
This article examines the semantic structure of adjectives in modern
Russian. Particular attention is paid to the classification of adjectives by meaning,
their function in conveying the assessment, state, feature and subjective attitude of
the speaker. The processes of expansion and transformation of adjective meanings in
context are also analyzed. The role of adjectives in the formation of axiological and
emotional-evaluative components in speech is shown. Structural and semantic
features of qualitative, relative and possessive adjectives are highlighted. The study is
based on a comparative analysis of lexical material and examples from fiction and
journalistic speech.
Keywords:
adjective, semantics, assessment, axiology, Russian vocabulary,
semantic field.
Adjectives in the Russian language play an important role in denoting the
characteristics of objects, as well as in conveying the
speaker’s
subjective
assessments. [6, 47
–
49, 91] They shape the expressiveness of speech, enhance the
semantic load of the text and participate in the axiological interpretation of reality. [7,
170] The study of the semantic structure of adjectives allows us to identify their role
in the language system, determine the patterns of semantic transformations and study
the mechanisms of contextual variation of meanings. This work is devoted to the
analysis of the semantic structure of adjectives in the modern Russian language. Their
classification, evaluative function and interaction with other lexical units are
considered. [5, 100] The study is based on component and lexical-semantic analysis,
as well as the comparative method, which allows us to clarify the boundaries of their
semantic functions. The material for the study is fiction texts, media and dictionaries,
providing a comprehensive analysis of linguistic features. Semantic classification of
adjectives
1. Qualitative (e.g. beautiful, fast)
—
denote features that can change in degree
of expression and enter into comparative relations.
2. Relative (e.g. wooden, student)
—
express attitude to an object, material,
time, place or process.
106
Issue 15(50), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 20.06.2025
SCIENCE SHINE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
3. Possessive (e.g. mother's, fox's)
—
indicate the belonging of an object to a
certain subject.
The semantic structure of adjectives includes several components:
- Denotative
—
denotes an objective feature of an object;
- Expressive-evaluative
—
conveys a subjective attitude;
- Axiological
—
reflects an assessment on a scale of "good - bad".
Evaluative and axiological function of adjectives
Adjectives are widely used to express subjective and cultural-evaluative
meanings. [4,57] Their semantic functions vary from positive to negative assessment:
Positive assessment: remarkable, worthy, outstanding.
Negative evaluation: nasty, vulgar, disgusting.
The context influences the interpretation of evaluative meanings:
"He gave a brilliant report" - the positive connotation is reinforced by the
context.
"Brilliant? More like superficial" - the transformation of meaning under the
influence of subjective evaluation.
Evaluative adjectives form semantic fields:
- The field of qualities: good - excellent - ideal.
- The field of negative evaluation: bad - terrible - disgusting.
Contextual transformation and interaction of adjectives
Adjectives change their meanings depending on the context:
- "hard work" - physical exertion. [2, 15]
- "difficult character" - psychological characteristic.
- "difficult situation" - socio-emotional evaluation.
Polysemy is formed due to the mechanisms of metaphorization, metonymy and
evaluative shifts. For example, the word "light" can denote both physical weight and
the degree of complexity, as well as an emotional state. [3, 114]
Adjectives interact with nouns, enhancing their semantic load:
- "sincere gratitude", "deep sadness", "useless waste".
They also play a key role in set expressions: "dark business", "white crow",
"black day".
The semantic structure of adjectives in the Russian language is a complex and
multi-layered system. [1,10] They not only denote objective features, but also
actively participate in the formation of subjective assessments, axiological
characteristics and cultural ideas. Their semantic flexibility allows changing
meanings depending on the context, and interaction with other lexical units
107
Issue 15(50), Volume 1 | ISSN 3030-377X | 20.06.2025
SCIENCE SHINE
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL
contributes to the creation of expressive constructions. [8, 170] The study of the
semantic and functional characteristics of adjectives opens up new perspectives for
the analysis of the mechanisms of meaning formation in language, as well as their
application in stylistics, lexicography and translation studies. Their role in the
language system makes the study of this category a significant direction in modern
linguistics.
References:
1. Abdurakhmanov F. I. Lexical-semantic groups of destruction verbs in Russian
and Uzbek // Hamkor konferensiyalar.
–
2024.
–
Vol. 1.
–
No. 9.
–
P. 10-13.
2. Abdurakhmanov F. I. Semantic and syntactic valency in Russian and Uzbek
in the context of teaching Russian as a foreign language // Hamkor konferensiyalar.
–
2024.
–
Vol. 1.
–
No. 9.
–
P. 14-17.
3. Apresyan, Yu. D. Lexical semantics: Synonymous means of language. - M.:
Science, 1974. - P. 112-115.
4. Dil'manov I. U. The process of studying socio-political vocabulary of Turkic
languages // Issues of science and education. - 2025. - No. 3 (188). - P. 55-58.
5. Zaliza, N. I. Linguistic personality and description of character traits in the
Russian language. - St. Petersburg: Publishing house of St. Petersburg State
University, 2003. - P. 98-101.
6. Krysin, L. P. Foreign words in the modern Russian language. - Moscow:
Russian language, 2004. - P. 47-49, 91.
7. Lagay E. A. Lingvodidactic aspects of teaching scientific speech to philology
students // Teacher. 21st century. - 2020. - No. 4. - P. 187-196.
8. Lagay E. A. Lingvomethodological aspects of teaching Turkic-speaking
students prepositional-case constructions of the Russian language. // Collection of
materials of the International Scientific Congress "Russian language in the global
scientific and educational space". - M., 2021. - P. 187-191.
