ENGLISH DEADJECTIVAL NOUNS AS MODELS OF KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION ABOUT THE WORLD

From the position of a cognitive approach the authors consider English deadjectival nouns, what involves identifying and describing knowledge domains represented by these language units in English language culture. The study is carried out on the material of deadjectival nouns, which are fixed in English dictionaries and selected by a continuous sampling method. A set of methods is used, the main of which are methods of conceptual-definitional and cognitive-matrix analysis. As a result of the study, it is revealed that English deadjectival nouns represent the structure of knowledge of an integrative nature, including the concepts of HUMAN BEING, ARTEFACT, NATURAL OBJECT, SUBSTANCE, and STATE. This knowledge structure is presented as a general cognitive matrix, the components of which are the above concepts. In turn, the matrix components can also be complex and include a variety of knowledge. It is determined that deadjectival nouns presenting the HUMAN BEING concept convey ideas about human physical parameters, psychological features and social status, as well as about human diseases. Deadjectival nouns representing the concept of ARTEFACT name human signs and sign systems, products of human speech, household and personal items, objects of labor activity, vehicles and buildings. Deadjectival nouns representing the NATURAL OBJECT concept convey ideas about natural landscape objects, about the plant and animal world. Deadjectival nouns representing the SUBSTANCE concept reflect ideas about drugs/substances, cleaning products, cosmetics, and technical substances, organic or natural substances. The STATE concept is represented by deadjectival nouns that convey knowledge about the state of a person, object, and phenomenon, about their being in a certain state.