Problems on Terminology and Theoretical Description of Language Derivation Levels

Abstract

The paper focuses on the system of terms used in Russian linguistics to denote the processes of language derivation. The existence of significant contradictions in their using is explained by the improper assignment of the generic term "derivation" to a separate language level – word formation. It is argued that a single-word non-attributive term should serve the purpose of nominating a concept that applies to all levels of the language. The terms denoting different varieties of derivation should include attributive characteristics, as it is in the case of terminology combination "semantic derivation". The features of the cognitive mechanisms underlying each of the types of derivation are determined, and the degree of their relevance to the development criterion as a core meaning of the lexeme "derivation" is established. A general typology of derivational processes is proposed. The term "derivation" within this typology is used for denoting the process of secondary nominative signs formation in hyperonimic sense, which includes the semantic, morphological and graphical derivation levels. The internal classification of each of the above-mentioned levels is developed. The main differences between them are presented with the help of formalized semantic records. The belonging of semantic and morphological derivation to the system language processes is proved, while graphoderivation is described as an aside-system phenomenon based on the game deconstruction of a language sign and violation of the conventions of its homogeneous semiotic representation.

Keywords

• derivation
• semantic derivation
• word formation
• semantic word formation
• graphoderivation.