Artemenko I. O. A typology of certain groups of lexical units containing background semantics: cultural linguistics aspect

Abstract

Because of the complicated and controversial character of culturally-marked lexical units being a specific
linguistic phenomenon either in cultural linguistics or in any of the related disciplines there is no clear or definite
approach to the ways of their classification. The problem needs generalization and systematization as well as
further development in order to differentiate certain categories of lexical units containing background semantics
that have not been studied before.
Using the up-to-date language material and regarding the existing ways of classification applicable to
cultural onyms, the author makes an attempt to differentiate the culturally-marked lexemes of a certain category
containing the examples of specific lexis belonging to inner culture in American English. Consequently, the
lexical units being the verbalizers of North American fraternities and sororities activity in the English language of
the USA were classified by seven principles within the scope of polystructural approach