Types of motivation in derived English words with the suffix -ment in word-formation rows

Abstract

The article is devoted to the main types of motivational relations from the synchronous point of view in English word-formation rows with the suffix -ment. Verbal, verbal-nominal, nominal, adjectival, verbal-adjectival word-formation rows were built. Their structure is investigated with the help of the relator language of the applicative generative model, which results in profound analysis, and detailed study of the motivational relations in word-formation rows. The peculiarities of semantic motivation were thoroughly investigated which leads to the conclusion that the bigger amount of derived words are characterized not only by partial metaphorical motivation but also by complete motivation. Despite this fact, there are some words with morphological motivation. Two models applied for deriving new compound words were outlined. Another peculiarity of the derived words with the suffix -ment is the developed polysemy. The fact is that some derived words can obtain not only direct but also indirect meaning. A lot of words can be characterized by multiple motivation which proves the idea of polymotivation of English words with the suffix -ment. Different classifications of motivation types are highlighted in the article such as complete and incomplete, unique and multiple, incoming and outgoing motivation. The theoretical framework of the motivology, i. e., «motivation», «derivation», «synchronous lexical motivation», «multiple motivation», «peripheral motivation» is highlighted in the paper. The connection between the motivation and antonymy is explained. In conclusion, the derived English words with the suffix -ment are characterized by synchronous lexical motivation that can be expressed in the form of the motivational square. Keywords: a word-formation row, synchronous lexical motivation, a motivational square, multiple motivation, polysemy.