Adjective metaphor: derivational-semantic model of qualification

The subject of the research is the patterns of formation of secondary qualitative meanings of relative nominalized adjectives based on metaphorical transfer. Metaphor is the main and most deeply studied, although not the only mechanism for the development of the quality of adjectives. The author elaborates on the connections between the semantics of relative adjectives and the possibilities of their semantic derivation. The peculiarities of metaphorization of relative adjectives are determined by their word-formation productivity. Generally, relative adjectives are derived, with the exception of a group of adjectival words with a borrowed base. As syntactic derivatives that replicate the meaning of their motivator, relative nominalized adjectives inherit the semantics of the motivating noun and express the general meaning of 'one that relates to what is named by the motivating base.' The semantics of the motivating name predetermines the possibilities of “qualifying” the adjective, a point noted by V. V. Vinogradov. Methods of semantic, word-formation, and contextual analysis of words are employed. Data from explanatory dictionaries, works of fiction, and modern media are used; materials from the National Corpus of the Russian Language are also utilized. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the proposal of a description of the formation of qualitative metaphorical meaning through a derivational-semantic model that includes four lexical-semantic components. Metaphorical meaning possesses dual derivational-semantic connections: with the motivating noun and with the original relative meaning of the adjective itself. The relationship between the direct relative and the secondary qualitative meanings of the adjective is examined by the author in the aspect of reflected polysemy. Thus, the correlation of meanings of the adjective туманный (‘one that relates to fog’ – ‘unclear’) is the same as that of the motivating noun туман (‘a cluster of small droplets’ – ‘unclearness, uncertainty’). If the motivating name lacks a metaphorical meaning, the derivational-semantic model of qualification has a gap. For example, there exists an adjectival metaphor поверхностный (‘insubstantial, unfounded’) without a metaphor with its motivator поверхность. The metaphor of nominalized adjectives arises based on representations of the real properties of the standard object (pistachio jacket, aquamarine eyes); based on connotations (cave worldview). The results of the research complement the understanding of semantic derivation in the adjectival sphere and can be used in lexicographic practice.

relative adjective, semantics, word-building motivation, derived polysemy, semantic derivation, direct meaning, metaphor, connotation, dictionary meaning explanation, contextual meaning