THE CATEGORY OF NOUN NUMBER IN UKRAINIAN AND ENGLISH AND ITS AXIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL

Abstract

Introduction. The article analyzes the category of number in nouns as one of the main factors in modeling evaluative meanings in modern Ukrainian and English languages. The category of number not only defines the grammatical structure of the language system but also serves as an important means of forming axiological orientations, cultural meanings, and value-based meanings in speech. Studying the functional features of number forms in Ukrainian and English languages allows us to reveal the uniqueness of each language system, particularly in the context of its morphological structure. The synthetic nature of the Ukrainian language provides a wealth of means for expressing evaluative meanings through number forms, while the analytical English language demonstrates specific lexical and grammatical innovations. Analysis of mechanisms that form evaluative meanings is relevant for further understanding the influence of grammatical categories on axiological processes in speech and their role in the linguistic worldview.
The purpose. The aim of the research is to analyze the category of number in nouns in Ukrainian and English languages, particularly its axiological potential, through establishing the connection between number forms and their ability to model evaluative meanings.
The methods. Among research methods, we distinguish traditional general scientific methods, primarily descriptive, which allows generalizing material, presenting and forming conclusions; methods of analysis and synthesis are used to present author's intentions regarding the raised issues; induction, which allows formulating conclusions based on principles underlying the proposed theoretical approaches; deduction, aimed at selecting key theoretical postulates and understanding them in the context of a comprehensive theory review. Among special linguistic methods, we actualize the interpretative method and contextual analysis, as well as comparative-contrastive method, which are projected onto understanding collected theoretical information, linguistic and speech facts. The study used artistic and journalistic texts and modern internet discourse.
Main results of the study. The category of number in Ukrainian has a more developed system of formbuilding, providing a wider spectrum of expressing evaluative meanings compared to English. In Ukrainian, axiological grammaticalization mechanisms include constructing plural forms for single objects (hyperbolic plural), generalizing plural, and using number forms in phraseology to convey negative connotations or irony.
In English, there is a specific tendency to form evaluative meanings through the transition of countable nouns into singularia tantum and the use of plural suffix -s with new semantic connotations characteristic of slang.
Originality. The originality of the article lies in the systematic analysis of the noun number category in Ukrainian and English through its axiological potential, which has remained insufficiently studied. The study for the first time examines number forms as a factor in modeling evaluative meanings, focusing on mechanisms of grammaticalization of the evaluation category in both languages. The comparative approach allows identifying unique features of synthetic Ukrainian and analytical English, as well as determining common and different ways of expressing value orientations, which ensures novelty and practical significance of the research.                                          Conclusions and specific suggestions of the author. It is shown that the category of number is a universal means of modeling grammatical evaluative meanings, depending on morphological features of each language system of the compared languages. The obtained results correlate with studies by Ukrainian and foreign scholars who emphasize the role of morphology in forming pragmatic meanings. Further research can be directed at studying number forms in functional styles, their influence on speech acts, and analysis of other grammatical categories in the context of their axiological potential. The importance of a comprehensive approach to studying the category of number is proven, contributing to deepening knowledge about linguistic mechanisms of forming value meanings and their role in communicative practices.