“DENOTATIVE AND CONNOTATIVE ANALYSIS OF ENGLISH NATIONAL SPORTS TERMINOLOGY (ON THE EXAMPLE OF GOLF AND TENNIS)”

Аннотация

This article explores the semantic structure of English sports terminology through a linguocognitive and discourse-based approach. The study focuses on golf and tennis terminology as representative models of English national sports and analyzes the interaction between denotative and connotative layers within lexical units. Particular attention is given to the etymological origins of terms, mechanisms of metaphorical extension, and their functional role in social discourse. The findings demonstrate that sports terminology functions not only as a nominative system but also as a complex linguistic structure carrying cultural, psychological, and social meanings. Special emphasis is placed on zoomorphic metaphors in golf terminology and socio-aristocratic connotations in tennis terminology, which reflect the deep interconnection between language and culture. The study concludes that English sports terminology operates as a dynamic and multi-layered semantic system and serves as an integral component of global communication..