LEXICAL AND SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF THE LEXICAL VERBALISERS OF THE CONCEPT HERO

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the lexical and semantic organisation of the lexical verbaliser of the concept ГЕРОЙ – HERO based on the Ukrainian and Russian dictionaries and studies by the Ukrainian researchers. The purpose of the article is to perform a lexical and semantic analysis of the lexeme-verbaliser of the concept ГЕРОЙ – HERO in terms of common and different semantic components in the Russian and Ukrainian linguistic cultures. It is proved that the conceptualisation of heroism in the Russian and Ukrainian linguistic spaces is based on the semantic dimensions of «psychological and volitional qualities», «qualities of a warrior», «ability to self-sacrifice», «outstanding achievements», «influence on society». It is emphasised that in the discourse of war there are transformational changes in semantic paradigms, in particular, the concept of ГЕРОЙ – HERO becomes a marker of national pictures of the world, a stable associative connection of belonging to a nation that wages war for its own ideals is built, and the combatant is a carrier of the characteristic features of an individual soldier. The blurred content of the concept of ГЕРОЙ – HERO in the Russian linguistic culture is due to the post-truth and semantic uncertainty of basic national meanings that acquire new connotations. The lexicographic analysis has shown that to identify the lexeme «hero» in Russian, the adjectives ‘беззаветный – selfless’, ‘бесстрашный – fearless’, ‘мужественный – courageous’, ‘отважный – brave’, ‘доблестный – valiant’, ‘смелый – bold’, ‘храбрый – brave’, as well as the phrase ‘человек, обращающий на себя повышенное внимание – a person who attracts increased attention’ are used mainly. This evidences introduction of diagnostic features, positioning the hero as a «role model». In the Ukrainian language, the hero’s characteristics are defined by nouns, which evidences subjectification of a person in the language: ‘видатна своїми здібностями і діяльністю людина – a person outstanding for their abilities and activities’, ‘хоробрість – bravery’, ‘відвага – courage’, ‘самовідданість у бою – selflessness in battle’, ‘самопожертва – self-sacrifice’, ‘рятівник – saviour’, ‘лицар – knight’, ‘козак – сossack’, ‘відчайдух – do-ordie’. The verbal origin of the lexemes ‘рятівник – saviour’ and ‘самопожертва – self-sacrifice’ evidences evaluation of the hero by his actions. In the Russian linguistic culture, the image of the hero is sacralised, his readiness for selfsacrifice is emphasised, and the hero is an object of worship. In the Ukrainian language, the hero’s activity is assessed as socially useful, aimed at certain actions for the sake of the Motherland: ‘переможець – winner’, ‘звитяжець – victor’, ‘лицар – knight’, ‘молодчага – hotshot’, ‘відчайдух – do-or-die, ‘виявляє відвагу – shows courage’, ‘самовідданість і хоробрість у бою і в труді – selflessness and bravery in battle and in work’. These differences indicate a fundamental divergence between the conceptual worldviews of Ukrainians and Russians.