The vector of polysemy development from the standpoint of antropomorphism and invariantcluster approach

Currently, it is believed impossible to find definite answers to the main questions of linguistics without considering the principles that govern and determine human cognitive activity with a person being the center of this activity. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate how language can help penetrate into the forms of different structures of knowledge, describe the dependence existing between these structures and language as well as model these structures, their content and interrelation. This article presents the methodology for determining an anthropomorphic lexical invariant cluster of a polysemantic word. The methodology includes several stages. First, on the basis of the most frequent components of dictionary definitions, the nominative nonderivative (NN) meaning of a word (the meaning that first emerges in a native speaker’s mind when they comprehend the concept of an object) is formulated. Then the analysis of all meanings of a word including figurative ones is performed in terms of their nontrivial semantic components. After that, the anthropomorphic lexical invariant cluster is designed, and it includes the basic semantic components that depending on their configurations underlie all the meanings of a polysemantic word. Finally, the degree of anthropomorphism is determined, i.e. the number of meanings of the secondary nominations based on the similarity to the structure and functioning patterns of a human body. The analysis showed that the metaphorical meanings are formed on the basis of the hidden semantic features uncharacteristic of the primary meaning of a polysemantic word rather than the components of its first NN meaning.