Radchuk O. Semantics of the Means of Representing the Notion of Absence in Russian: Linguocognitive Aspect

The object of research is discourse representation of the notion of absence in the signs of the Russian language system. The aim of the thesis is theoretical grounding and describing the semantics of the means representing the notion of absence in the Russian language system taking into account linguocultural and mental specifics of the notion as well as explaining the mechanisms of its developing within the cognitive framework. The research methods originate from the general methodological basis and contribute to performing the set objectives: both traditional linguistic methods (descriptive, comparative, componential analysis, experimental) and the innovative method (combining the methods of prototype description and etymological analysis). The scientific novelty of the research is defined by developing new theoretical view on the language system asymmetry that can be explained based on the theory of oppositions, namely opposition of presence (availability) vs absence (lack) where the marked notion of absence is in the leading position. The thesis substantiates the theoretical statement that language semantics is predetermined by grammar while lexical and derivational transformations are based on some grammatical foundation. Linguocognitive patterns of developing the semantics of the notion of absence based on the prototypes of nyet and bez are examined for the first time. The theoretical value of the thesis is in defining theoretical grounds for examining abstract notions that are fundamental for cognitive science in interdisciplinary studies. The theoretical contribution to linguistics is connected with intensifying the apperception theory, the theory on word inner form, and on the necessity and possibility of combining methodological approaches in cognitive researches to interpret some language material. The thesis proves the theoretical significance of the notion of absence as fundamental in the language system. The practical value of the research is predetermined by the fact that it contains well-grounded fundamentals which made it possible to apply them in the process of teaching several theoretical courses at institutions of higher learning, namely Introduction to Linguistics, General Linguistics, Historical Outline of Linguistic Studies, theoretical and practical subjects such as Lexicology, Word-building, Morphology that examine the current state of the Russian language as well as the courses exploring the language diachronically: Historical Grammar of the Russian language and History of the Russian literary Language. The thesis conclusions will facilitate exploring the paradigmal character of the Russian language system within the cognitive framework, will complete and specify understanding of the privative character of the language system through the notion of absence which is vital for the language functioning in a certain society, in this case in the sociocultural community of Russian speakers. Concluding statements about lexical, semantic and derivational explication of the notion of absence contribute to the word-building theory by a new approach to examining derivational ways and means, which serve as the basis for semantic and derivational classification of the language representations of the notion of absence. Systematization and generalization of the views on the nature and essence of the grammatical phenomenon of suppletivity are important.