COMPLIMENTARITY AS AN EVALUATIVE CATEGORY

The article considers complimentarity as an evaluative category in English. This category has a conceptual basis. Such characteristics as praise, admiration, commendation, civility, esteem, approval are structured via a conceptual analysis. These conceptual characteristics make up the format of complimentary evaluation when the evaluative knowledge is construed on the basis of intersection of objective characteristics and evaluative characteristics which are linked with human values. The results of factual analysis show that complimentary evaluation is oriented onto various aspects of cognitive domains “human being”, “artefact” and “nature”. Despite the fact that complimentary evaluation is always subjective, it is socially important due to its regulating function. We point out such regulating functions of complimentary evaluation, as maintenence of social status, reduction of social distance, esteem manifestation as a form of benevolence which is aimed at the conflict elimination in relations and human behavior regulation as well. The latter is manifested in the form of tension elimination and further cooperation forecasting. Although various aspects of evaluative opinions were analysed under structural, functional-semantic and cognitive approaches, the given article is actual as it reveals the conceptual basis of complimentarity and considers this category format as evaluative knowledge. Moreover, it has a theoretical significance as it provides an elaboration in the theory of evaluative conceptualization and categorization. The given results can be used in teaching English and courses in cognitive semantics, pragmatics and handbooks on effective communication