Iryna Matiiash-Hnediuk
Department of English Philology, Vasyl Stefanyk National Precarpathian University, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
Yuliia Chura
Department of Linguistics, Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University, Ivano-Frankivsk 76000, Ukraine
Inesa Melnyk
Department of English Philology, Vasyl Stefanyk National Precarpathian University, Ivano-Frankivsk 76018, Ukraine
Yuliya Datsko
Department of of English Philology, Ivan Franko National University, Lviv 79000, Ukraine
Antonina Devitska
Department of Applied Linguistics, Uzhhorod National University, Uzhhorod 88000, Ukraine
This article investigates the semantic evolution of the lexeme CHILD in British newspaper discourse from the 18th to the 21st centuries, employing a diachronic approach and cognitive semantics framework. The study utilizes lexical analysis and frame modelling methodologies to trace changes in the lexical meaning of the lexeme CHILD during the mentioned period, drawing on dictionaries and newspaper archives. Findings reveal a dynamic semantic structure characterized by the emergence of new meanings and the persistence of core components like 'person' and 'juvenile'. The analysis identifies shifts influenced by societal, cultural, and ideological factors, reflecting changes in societal perceptions and linguistic representations over time. This research contributes to understanding how a language mirrors and shapes societal attitudes towards childhood across centuries, emphasizing the role of newspaper discourse in framing cultural norms and perceptions.
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Copyright © 2024 Iryna Matiiash-Hnediuk, Yuliia Chura, Inesa Melnyk, Yuliya Datsko, Antonina Devitska
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