International Journal of English Linguistics; Vol. 10, No. 5; 2020

 

Polysemy in cognitive aspect is

 

viewed as 

multifunctional character of a word gained in the process of speech activities. In cognitive semantics the basic 

criterion is a person, thinking and speaking. In other words, a person comprehends the surrounding world in 

accordance with his/her own needs.   

4. Research Methodology 

 

The current investigation is aimed at determining the psycholinguistic bases that underlie the semantic changes 

of lexical units and revealing basic reasons of semantic extension connected with cognitive processes. The 

methods have been chosen in accordance with the topic to be investigated. Definitely, the correct choice of 

investigation methods ensures detailed analysis of any linguistic phenomenon and guarantees the objective 

results. To achieve the goal and to approach the study in a detailed way appropriate methodology should be 

introduced. For this purpose, the analysis of the psycholinguistic factors that bring about semantic changes was 

taken into consideration. The article was prepared taking into account the fact that, both linguistic and 

extralinguistic peculiarities of a language unit function in actual speech. The present study applied the following 

methods of research to achieve the objectives: linguistic description, synchronic method, observation method and 

semantic-componential analysis. By the method of linguistic description we could research the language 

phenomena from the synchronic aspect. The method of synchronic description is based on the study and 

generalization of basic achievements of modern linguistics. The semantic-componential analysis method, typical 

of structural semantics identifies and analyzes the components of word meaning. The utilization of the above 

mentioned methods was deemed appropriate in accordance with the main aim of the study. In the course of the

 

present investigation the theoretical framework has been scrutinized which made it possible to study the issue 

through multiple viewpoints. As the result of the research conducted a new interpretation of the analysis of 

semantic changes has been proposed.   

 

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International Journal of English Linguistics 

Vol. 10, No. 5; 2020 

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