РОЛЬ КОГНИТИВНОГО КОНТЕКСТА В ФОРМИРОВАНИИ КОНТЕКСТНО-ЗАВИСИМЫХ ЗНАЧЕНИЙ МНОГОЗНАЧНЫХ АБСТРАКТНЫХ СУЩЕСТВИТЕЛЬНЫХ

Lexical meaning has been a core notion for linguists throughout all periods of language studies. Still, approaches to its definition vary broadly.  Gradually the relationship between a sign and its user came to the foreground. Studies dedicated to pragmatics attempted to describe a dynamic connection between the speaker and the language sign. Cognitive linguistics has also made a significant contribution to the development of the theory of meaning. The idea that  a single lexical meaning is part and parcel of a larger mental and linguistic formation underlies cognitive research. That is why such notions as concept, frame and category are widely discussed. Besides, cognitive scientists describe and interpret ways or models by which a new meaning appears in human mind; they investigate mechanisms responsible for meaning formation, as well as various factors that condition changes in meanings. Cognitive studies regard contextas a possible means of a meaning identification. Despite the fact that linguists agree on the importance of context analysis, there are minor differences in understanding its role. Contextually dependent words are most appropriate for such studies as they chiefly possess an abstract, generic meaning and it seems interesting to observe the development of their meanings in a variety of contexts.

The present paper is based on several seminal studies, e.g. B.Serebrennikov, N. Boldyrev, V. Zabotkina, T. A. van Dijk et al. The analysis of meaningsis done using the datafromtheBritishNational Corpus (BNC) which now is automatically updated and reflects processes taking place in the modern English language.

Contextual analysis implies clearly delineated paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations of the word. The former exist between the words that are located in immediate proximity in a sentence [6, 238], and they comprise the basis of a context. As a rule, one distinguishes between a broad and a narrow context. The broad context is directly related to the cognitive one, since they both include factors outside the linguistic scope (social and historical settings) [4, P. 96]. E. Boyarskaya writes about universal, culture specific as well as individual  features as integral parts of cognitive context, for it is the speaker who connects the outside world and a language expression [3]. The speaker has to relate grammar, vocabulary and syntax of the native language to the ongoing changes in the world and this adaptation first and foremost concerns lexical changes. As stated by N. Boldyrev, lexical meanings are connected to the knowledge blocks that make up cognitive contexts. The mission of contexts is to facilitate the perception of new information (or the old one, but in a new distribution). [2, P. 36-45]. T. A. van Dijk regarded contexts as parts or interpretations of the social environment [7, P. 163].

So, what is exactly the relationship between a word meaning and its context? Contexts can pre-determine a meaning [4, P. 46], or reveal it [1, P. 7]. As a matter of fact, the latter uses the term “actualizing context” which is supposed to act as a prerequisite for the meaning actualization. B. Serebrennikov expresses a contrary idea. Context is unable to create a meaning, it only points at a new situation in communication. The meaning is determined later, in a human mind based on the available cognitive mechanisms [5, P. 206].

The modern English language abounds in new words and meanings. And some of them pose a certain difficulty in their translation into other languages. The lexical meaning is so deeply entangled with the context that it is practically impossible to render an adequate translation without it. The word “performance” is a good example thereof (examples in bold are taken from the BNC).

Word meanings are largely determined by the application area: at school pupils' performance basically means good or bad marks, in trading or economics export performance is export itself.  In the latter case, the meaning is to a certain degree redundant and includes the assessment of all features of export activities, especially profit. In chemistry, high performance liquid is a liquid that reacts quickly to other substances while in lawcontractual performance is a degree to which contract obligations are observed. Mathematics and computing use the word to denote calculation of certain numbers (such as floating point performance, integer performance).The invariant meaning can be therefore formulated as “functioning, activity” in a very broad sense. The element of evaluation is present in the generic meaning: any kind of activity should bring about certain results, and be a success or a failure.

Another example of a polysemantic contextually dependent word is “treatment”. Its meanings also depend on the sphere of application. Environmental protection and studies view water\sewage treatment as purification, removal of contaminants. It is similar to performance: numerical treatment is tantamount to calculation or expression in different values. In agriculture treatment of confined areas refers to tilling land, in law and financing meanings are somewhat similar –income tax treatment, treatment of offenders denotes a set of rules which should be applied to certain things or persons.

As in the previous example, “treatment” has its invariant meaning “activity, actions imposed on some person or object.” But this word lacks an evaluative component. The question is not how well something is done, but rather whether it is done or not. It is of interest to note the difference between the English concept of “water treatment” and Russian “очисткаводы,” literally “water cleaning.” Treatment does not imply that the object will become clean or pure. Rather, the object changes its essence. The same is true for the given examples from other fields of knowledge.

The word “crisis” presents a good example. Though normally it is translated as “кризис,” the meanings vary to a great extent. For instance, if “crisis” is combined with resources (fuel crisis, coal crisis, oil crisis), it does not necessarily mean the lack of them.  In most cases, it means that prices have plunged and the economy is threatened. Therefore, it is actually an economic crisis that is meant.

Another possible model is country\weapon+crisis which can mean hostilities or an armed confrontation (Gulf crisis, missile crisis). If some notion, which is conventionally regarded as a negative one, is combined with “crisis”, it means its uncontrollable development (rape crisis, hostage crisis, injury crisis, refugee crisis, debt crisis). Therefore, “crisis” serves as an intensifier without changing the meaning substantially. Here the abundance of some qualityis observed but it can develop vice versa. Examples like confidence crisis, cash crisis,sterling crisis point to lack of something which is usually perceived as vital. The last group – identity crisis, constitutional crisis, legitimacy crisis, capitalism’s crisis – refers neither to the abundance nor lack of something, but to the disruption of normal functioning. As a matter of fact, it can serve as an invariant meaning. Consequently, the meaning of the word crisis depends heavily on the surrounding context. In order to understand the meaning of various collocations, the speaker has to be acquainted with the social and historical background and be able to distinguish between the set of values and beliefs in the existing society. Social context as such is a complex phenomenon.

In conclusion, it can be stated that the words analyzed above are contextually dependent having meanings dependent on historical, social and other factors. Moreover, several productive models of meaning formation can be identified.  Abstract nouns, similar to the ones analyzed in the article, possess invariant meanings related to the functioning of animate or inanimate agents. From a philosophical standpoint, functioning is tantamount to existence. Contextually dependent words reflect fundamental, universal notions that is why they tend to develop numerous meanings.