Structure of the lexical and semantic field named "transport facilities" in English language

Abstract

Author of the article represents results of researches aimed at revealing the structure of lexical-semantic field «Vehicles» in the English language. Studies of 385 lexical units chosen from «Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary» (Cambridge University Press, 2012) have revealed the core and the periphery elements of the lexical-semantic field, their common and differential semantic features. Studies have found that lexical units of lexical-semantic field «Vehicles» are united by archiseme «means of transportation conveyance». A number of groups and subgroups specific to the lexical-semantic field has been identified on the basis of distinctive features, for example, «the environment of the movement», «the source of the movement», «features of vehicle design», «main function», etc. Associations of each group members with reference words prove the hierarchical character of field structures.