Geometrical Images in Lexis and Phraseology of Modern Russian Language

Abstract

The article reviews geometrical objects as a factor forming the image system of modern Russian language, and explores the lexical units motivated by the concept of geometrical objects and phraseological units with geometrical components. This approach reveals multiplicity of geometrical objects participating in the process: there are three-dimensional (sphere, spatial angle, etc.), two-dimensional (circle), one-dimensional (line, etc.) and geometrical objects without dimension (point). When considering the language material the author uses the concept of the inner form of the word. Numerous examples are given demonstrating the process of geometric metaphorization. The analysis has shown that circle and spatial angle demonstrate high activity in forming lexical and phraseological units under consideration. Many of those geometrical images have an ancient origin. The article also touches on the issue of national characteristics of the perception of angles and circles. Some examples given by the author indicate the further development of language phenomena motivated by the concept of those geometrical objects in our time. Modern trends in the development of geometric imagery in the Russian language have been identified. The role of such geometric objects as a point, line, edge, etc. in the modern process of enriching the figurative structure of the Russian language is noted. The issues of lexical compatibility of the studied words are considered, the tendency of its change and expansion is traced. Modern trends of development of geometrical imagery in Russian language as a systematic process reflecting essential features of national view of the world are revealed.

Keywords:

modern Russian, vocabulary and phraseology, geometrical images, the inner form of the word, metaphor, lexical compatibility, development of language geometrism