THE SEMANTICS OF THE COLOR BLACK IN ENGLISH AND ITS STEP-BY-STEP SEMANTIC CHANGE

Аннотация

This article investigates the multifaceted semantics of the color black in the English language, tracing its historical evolution and the step-by-step semantic changes it has undergone. Utilizing a diachronic linguistic approach, the study analyzes various lexical items and contextual uses of "black" from Old English to contemporary usage. The Introduction outlines the research problem and significance, while the Methodology details the corpus selection and analytical framework. Results present key semantic shifts, including associations with darkness, absence, evil, sophistication, and protest. The Discussion interprets these changes within socio-cultural and historical contexts, offering insights into the dynamic nature of color semantics. The Conclusion summarizes findings and suggests avenues for future research.