Degree of Semantic Proximity of Words in Mental Lexicon
https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-3-151-167
Abstract
The article addresses a pressing issue in psycholinguistics — namely, the modeling of the mental lexicon as a dynamic structure that underlies the processes of speech comprehension and production. The research aims to determine the degree of semantic proximity between words within the mental lexicon. Using a database developed by the authors, titled Interactive Map of Basic Values of the Russian Federation, the study conducts a comparative analysis of the associative field “Health” alongside other fields representing values significant to Russians. The analysis identifies overlapping associates — common semantic features that establish mental connections among the words under consideration. The findings demonstrate that the strength of lexical associations and the degree of semantic proximity between words are determined by the index of overlapping associates. The novelty of this research lies in its ability, through the analysis of the overlapping associates index, to establish a hierarchy of values based on their semantic proximity to the concept of “health,” as well as to quantitatively objectify dominant features that reflect the interrelation and interdependence of Russians’ basic values. The author concludes that the specifically organized structure of the mental lexicon components determines the value-based worldview and potentially possible trajectories for the development of personal meanings, which are realized in communication.
About the Author
N. I. Stepykin
National Research University «Moscow Power Engineering Institute»; Moscow State Linguistic University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Nikolay I. Stepykin- Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor, Professor, Department of Foreign Languages; leading research scientist of Psycholinguistics
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Stepykin N.I. Degree of Semantic Proximity of Words in Mental Lexicon. Nauchnyi dialog. 2026;15(3):151-167. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24224/2227-1295-2026-15-3-151-167
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