Architectonics of lexical meaning: a comparative analysis of radial and chain models of polysemy in English language

Abstract

This article examines the architectonics of lexical meaning in the English language through the phenomenon of polysemy as one of the central issues in semantics. It explores radial and chain models of semantic organization, focusing on their cognitive and functional characteristics. Particular attention is paid to the mechanisms of polysemy formation, including metaphorical and metonymic transfer. A comparative analysis of these models is conducted to identify their similarities and differences, as well as their role in structuring lexical meaning. The study concludes that polysemy is a systematic and logically organized phenomenon reflecting processes of conceptualization in language.