Mongolic Languages: Lexical Semantic Groups of Locative Nouns Described

Abstract

Introduction. The article deals with lexical means of expressing the category of locativity, the latter to serve a basic concept of space. Descriptions of locative parts of speech in typological works analyzing different languages make it possible to consider lexical semantic groups of locative nouns in Mongolian, Buryat, Oirat and Kalmyk. Goals. So, the study aims at describing lexical semantic groups of locative nouns in the mentioned Mongolic languages. Materials. The work examines various dictionaries of the Mongolic languages, literary and journalistic texts included into the available corpora of the languages. Results. Our insights show that Mongolic nouns may serve as various tools to express locativity meanings. The paper distinguishes a total of four key lexical semantic groups of the considered nouns: 1) types of surface, cardinal points, types of landscape; 2) names of countries, regions, cities, streets, squares; 3) structures, buildings, dwellings; 4) transport. In Mongolic languages, the analyzed vocabulary is represented by a wide range of lexemes. Different use patterns, absence or presence of certain lexemes in the languages under consideration has been noted. Conclusions. Analysis of the identified lexical semantic groups of locative nouns shows a variety of meanings in different combinations, as well as peculiarities of their use in related Mongolic languages. Nouns employed to refer to parts of the world, types of landscape, earth’s surface, countries and cities constitute quite a diverse layer of vocabulary too.

Keywords

• space
• locativity
• mongolic languages
• noun
• lexical semantic groups