Shumenko O. Denumeral Units in the Modern English Literary Texts

The paper is devoted to the study of structural and semantic characteristics of the English numerals and their derivatives based on modern English literary texts. Regularities in the systemic and structural organization and development of number nominations, i.e. numerals and their derivatives - denumerals have been considered. Common and different features in this dichotomy have been specified. Numerals are regarded as initial units of secondary structures. The research focuses on the genetic origin, paradigmatic and syntagmatic features and epidigmatic tendencies of the object under investigation. Denumerals have been studied in terms of their structure, semantics, syntactic functions, in the processes of evolution and involution. It has been shown that due to retaining the numeral morpheme denumerals are modified on the deep level and undergo dequantification and desemantization with the latter process fully manifested in denumerals-functional words. These functional units (interjections, particles, conjunctions and prepositions) continue the word-building tendencies of the numerals by forming denumerals - new notional parts of speech.