Comparative Analysis of Experimental Researches Data on the Process of a New Word Meaning Identification by Native Speakers

Abstract

Being a reality reflection in a human consciousness, a word meaning is a valuable source of information for psycholinguists as it gives an opportunity to research the interconnection between the language, human consciousness and worldview. Studying of the identification mechanisms used by native speakers to uncover the meaning of a new, and thus difficult to identify, word allows to reveal mental associations between real objects and human consciousness. This article is a description of the two undertaken separately in different periods of time experimental researches, which show that the character of psychophysical mechanisms of speaking and cogitating activity is both steady and changeable to certain factors. Thus, it was found out that in order to uncover the meaning of an unknown word native speakers use such models of meaning identification as discrimination of a productive basis, word-formation model or sounds and letters combination, giving a synonym, coordinate member of the category or denotation, and reacting with a definition, antonym or context. It also came to light that the respondents are much more rarely guided by their curricular background knowledge and widely used set phrases and much more frequently refuse to identify at all with the course of time.