COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FUNCTIONING ADJECTIVES WITH THE MEANINGS “RICH – POOR” IN ENGLISH AND RUSSIAN

Abstract

The article examines functioning of adjectives with the meanings “rich” and “poor” in English and Russian. These adjectives have the same meaning, which has a well-developed compatibility and is the most productive in the formation of new meanings. In addition, there are many secondary meanings. The adjective “rich” has secondary meanings such as “luxurious”, “elegant”, “extensive”, “magnificent”, “beautiful”, “prosperous”, “abundant”, “satisfying”. The adjective “poor” has secondary meanings: “have-nots”, “unhappy”, “pathetic”. There is an ideographic synonymy in these meanings, where the adjectives “rich” and “poor” are dominant. In both languages, the number of minor values marked is approximately the same. Each of them has high productivity, ambiguity and wide compatibility. The article concludes that in English and Russian, adjectives with the meaning “rich” and “poor” play the role of synonymous dominant in each of their groups. Each of them has high productivity, ambiguity and wide compatibility. Semantic relations between adjectives related to the adjective “rich” refer to ideographic synonymy. Stylistic shades also play their role here.