Objects as culture-specific referents of color terms in Russian

The present study is an extension of our analysis of Russian basic color terms (BCTs) elicited in a web-based psycholinguistic experiment. Color samples (N = 600) were approximately uniformly distributed in the Munsell color solid. An unconstrained color-naming method was employed. Native Russian speakers (N = 713; 333 males) participated in the study. Among 1422 elicited unique color words, 698 terms (49%) were derived from object names. Here we explore object-derived non-BCTs, focusing on broad classes of names referred to objects, categories within these, and the inventory of color terms, as well as their frequency, patterns of derivation, and derivational productivity. Six classes of object referents were identified: flora, fauna, inanimate nature, food and beverages, man-made objects, body and bodily products. In detail, 20 most frequent object-derived terms are reported. These are accompanied by analysis of gender differences and representation of the terms' denotata on the Munsell Mercator projection. In addition, Russian object-derived color terms are related to those in English; discussed are differences between the 2 languages in the color term classes, inventories and incidences. We conclude that Russian object-derived color terms follow the generic metonymy pattern, that is, signifying color of objects in the speakers' natural environment. The inventory is also language-specific, reflecting social practices, preferences and views entrenched in the traditional Russian culture. Furthermore, recent extensive development of the inventory signals 2 novel phenomena: marked globalization influence, surfacing as abundant transliteration of English referent loanwords, and noticeable sociolectal diversification that manifests itself by novel evocative color terms, particularly in marketing and advertisement

The contemporary architecture landmarks: placing an iconic building in a hierarchical clasification system / Šiuolaikinės architektūros orientyrai: ikoniški pastatai hierarchinės klasifikacijos sistemoje

Cultural, technological, economic and social phenomena are changing the meaning and importance of different cityscape elements. The article focuses on contemporary architecture landmarks and architectural iconicity. It suggests the hierarchical classification of contemporary architectural landmarks, considering the global urban tendencies and capitalist globalization. The contemporary architectural icons are treated as urban landmarks of international importance. The dominants of cities spatial structure are recognized as other important their hierarchical type. The importance of distinguishing buildings and distinguishing urban details is limited in terms of territory, view and time. Santrauka Architektūros orientyrai dažnai aptariami bendrai su gamtinės aplinkos elementais ir nenagrinėjami atsietai. Tačiau pastarųjų metų miestų vystymo tendencijos, nuolat didėjantis antropogeninių orientyrų skaičius miestovaizdyje bei auganti jų svarba reikalauja atidesnio požiūrio į šiuos miestų urbanistinės struktūros elementus. Straipsnyje aptariamas ikoniškų pastatų fenomenas bei kiti šiuolaikiniai architektūros orientyrai – aplinkoje savo fizinėmis bei estetinėmis savybėmis išsiskiriantys pastatai, urbanistiniai elementai bei šių kompleksai. Atsižvelgiant į pastarųjų metų miestų raidos kryptis bei urbanizuotos erdvės suvokimo sampratos pokyčius, siūloma šiuolaikinės architektūros orientyrus skirstyti į ikoniškos architektūros, erdvinės struktūros dominančių ir išsiskiriančių ženklų hierarchinius tipus. Aptariamos skirtingų tipų architektūros orientyrų skiriamosios savybės. Raktiniai žodžiai: architektūros orientyrai; ikoniška architektūra; ikoniškas pastatas; globalizacija; miesto suvokima