The problem of the Word. The theory of the Word

Word – is considered a central unit of linguistic and speech because it possesses a phonetic shape and grammatical structure (morphological) and its meaning(semantic shape). more than 100 definitions of a WORD but not a single definition has been consider quite significant.

3 approaches to the definitions of a word

1. Phonetic approach

2. Grammatical approach

3. Semantic approach

1. Morphological approach (Henry Sweet)

A word is minimal sentence. (Nothing about semantic and phonetic) Leonard Bloomfield word – is a minimum free form (минимальная свободная форма) (nothing about the meaning)

2. Edward Sapir word – is one of the smallest completely satisfying bits of isolating meaning into which the sentence resolves itself. the most essential feature – indivisibility (неделимость) (a (dangerous) live; alive)

3. Anton Meillet (combines the semantic, phonological and grammatical criteria)word – is defined by the association of a particular meaning with a particular group of founds capable of a particular grammatical employment criteria.

4. И.В.Арнольд, А.И. Смерницкий, В.В. Ярцева.(noticed the connection of a word with practical reality)word – denotes something in reality and this should be taking into consideration while a given the definition of a word.

word – is the smallest significant unit of a given language capable of functioning alone and characterized by positional mobility within a sentence, morphological indivisibility and semantic integrity (целостность)

The word as a dialectical unity of form (the spoken or written expression) and content (the meaning rendering the emotion or the concept in the mind of the speaker which he intends to convey to his listener)