TO THE DETERMINATION OF THE SEMANTIC STATUS OF AN ADJECTIVE

Abstract

The paper analyzes different linguistic approaches to the adjective status in the language system. It is noted that understanding of the semantic peculiarities of an adjective is closely associated with foreshortening of linguistic description. We argue the status of semantic independence of an adjective as a linguistic entity as contrasted with the ontological properties of attribute as such. Appraisal of linguistic manifestations of «attributiveness» as an autonomous semasiological category is predetermined by cognitive designation of independent reference as the consequence of object’s «perceptual separation or «out singling». It is concluded that the cognitive paradigm of linguistic description has expanded the evidence base of functional and semantic analysis and further substantiated the mechanism of attribute conversion into a self-sufficient linguistic phenomenon.

Keywords

• adjective
• attribute
• semantic independence
• reference
• cognitive paradigm