CONCEPTUAL MODEL OF POLITICS IN AMERICAN ENGLISH

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The research is aimed at reconstructing a conceptual model of POLITICS as a social phenomenon that is activated by the word politics in the minds of American people. Methodology: As an appropriate methodology, “the semantics of lingual networks” (SLN)is used to analyze a 1000-context sample of the word politics from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). Specifically, a range of logical predicates (associated with POLITICS) is established and sorted by propositional schemas of basic frames. The latter is reproduced graphically in the network conceptual form and equated to the denotative meaning of POLITICS. Main findings: The conducted research made it possible to define 26 propositional schemas that are regarded as the conceptual model of POLITICS in American English. Novelty/originality: The research is the first attempt to study social phenomena via linguistic tools only – those of cognitive linguistics (the SLN methodology) and corpus linguistics (analysis of a COCA sample where these phenomena are represented) – rather than via techniques of politology, sociology, psychology and other social sciences themselves. Along with the conceptual model of POLITICS, the first-ever idea to convert it into the field cognitive model is offered as well (via operations of cognitive interpretation and prominence). As a result, the final model can be used to define what features of POLITICS are mentally the most relevant for the American community. The possibility of comparing several cognitive models of POLITICS is also stated. Applications of the study: The research results can be used for politological, sociological and psychological studies; to compile new curricula for philology undergraduates and postgraduates.