Title: Decoding lexico-semantic features of English informal words with the component "fruit", "berry", "vegetable" and "nut" in online dictionaries
Authors: Faleeva Anastasiya Vadimovna
Volume: 9
Issue: 6
Pages: 220-230
Publication Date: 2025/06/28
Abstract:
This article examines the problem of studying the lexical and semantic features of English colloquialisms based on thematic differentiation, taking into account subcultural specificity, socio-professional classification. The author uses descriptive, comparative, classificatory, systemic-structural, nominative-derivational methods to decode the implicit characteristics of colloquialisms formed on the basis of associative parallels, taking into account etymological data and extralinguistic factors. This study analyzes the hidden meaning of colloquial words and expressions based on gender, linguacultural features with the involvement of crowdsourcing and various leading online dictionaries of the modern English language. Characteristic features of homonymous and synonymous constructions are identified and described. The findings revealed in the study of modern electronic dictionary entries allow not only to reflect modern trends in the formation of implicit meaning, but also to predict the retrospective when creating dictionary definitions of a new type based on long-known and new hybrid varieties of fruits, berries and nuts. Based on a brief classification of colloquial words and expressions, a differentiation of colloquialisms and slangisms is established depending on the territorial feature. The results of the study can be used to compile projects of thematic dictionaries based on associative images using examples of American, British, Australian, New Zealand, African American, Canadian varieties of the English language.