LEXICAL MEANS OF VERBALIZATION OF THE NOTIONAL COMPONENT OF THE CONCEPT ‘AUSSIE’ IN AUSTRALIAN SLANG

Abstract

The paper focuses on the study of lexical means of verbalization of the notional component of the concept ‘Aussie’ in Australian slang (also strine, Ozspeak) which has not been yet researched. The aim of the paper is to study the notional component of the concept ‘Aussie’ and find out lexical means of its verbalization in Australian slang. The tasks of the research are to study semantics of the lexeme Aussie, elucidate the cognitive tokens of the concept formed on the basis of meaning ‘an Australian’ / ‘Australian people’, differentiate them according to their value into kernel and peripheral, consider types of formation of concept nominations in Australian slang. The illustrative material is represented by slang names in the form of nouns and noun phrases of different types. The methodological background of the research is based on the latest lexicological publications, theoretical works in lexical semantics, semasiology and linguoconceptology. The method of entry definitions, comparative, morphological, lexical-semantic and linguoconceptual analyses have been applied in the study. The conducted research has permitted to make a well-founded conclusion about the concept ‘Aussie’ as one of the key concepts for Australian slang speakers proved by its numerous nominations in the analysed material (170 lexical units). The kernel of the notional component of the concept ‘Aussie’ is formed by the main cognitive token ‘inhabitant’, the supplementary cognitive tokens ‘gender’, ‘age’, ‘appearance’, ‘mental capabilities’, ‘social status’, ‘behaviour’, ‘kinship and relashinship’ organise its periphery. The nominations of the concept ‘Aussie’ which are represented by metaphoric, metonymic, periphrastic, semantically motivated, rhyming and onomatopoeic lexis prove its imagery character and high emotive and evaluative potential.