A SYSTEMS APPROACH TO VOCABULARY STUDY: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYZING KINSHIP TERMS IN ENGLISH

Abstract

The article examines English kinship terms within the systems approach in modern lexicology. Using lexicographic analysis of major English dictionaries, it identifies systematic semantic relations among kinship words. Three main groups are distinguished: biological, legal (affinal), and generalized (inclusive) kinship terms. Each group is described through common semantic features and generalized definition formulas. The study shows that kinship vocabulary forms a structured lexical-semantic field, reflecting both linguistic organization and cultural patterns. The results are relevant for lexicology, translation, and English language teaching