The Controversial Nature of the Concept of 'Eurysemy': The Methodological Principle of 'Occam's Razor

The subject of this study is the concept of "eurysemy" in Russian linguistics, which is undergoing critical re-evaluation. The object of analysis comprises theoretical positions of Russian linguists, who interpret eurysemy as a special semantic phenomenon characterized by broad denotative reference and contextual conditioning of meaning. The author examines in detail such aspects of the problem as the methodological inconsistency of the term "eurysemy," the lack of clear criteria for its identification, and the conflation of this concept with other linguistic categories. Particular attention is given to analyzing the argumentation that the observed "broad meaning" is not an independent phenomenon but rather a consequence of typological features of the grammatical structure of compared languages, primarily the differences between analytic and synthetic language systems. The study employs the method of critical analysis of theoretical positions based on the principle of "Occam's Razor," which excludes the introduction of redundant entities. Methods of comparative linguistics are used to demonstrate the typological conditioning of the phenomenon, as well as componential analysis to identify semantic patterns. The methodological framework includes works on general semantics and language typology. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the systematic deconstruction of the concept of "eurysemy" as methodologically unsound. The author proves that the observed phenomena of "broad meaning" represent: 1) the result of cross-linguistic comparison rather than an inherent property of vocabulary; 2) a manifestation of typological differences between analytic and synthetic languages; 3) a consequence of conflating various linguistic phenomena (polysemy, grammaticalization, syntagmatic variability). The main conclusion of the study is that eurysemy does not qualify as an independent linguistic phenomenon, as it fails to meet the criteria of universality, systematicity, and verifiability. The practical significance of the research lies in developing a more rigorous methodological approach to analyzing semantic phenomena without resorting to terminologically redundant constructs.

eurysemy, broad semantic word, Occam's razor, word formation, analyticity, syntheticity, Russian language, semantics, abstract meaning, broad meaning