THE LEXICAL-SEMANTIC STRUCTURE OF THE CONCEPT OF “YOUTH”

Abstract

This article examines the lexical-semantic field of the concept of “youth” from a linguistic perspective. The study focuses on the structure of vocabulary units related to youth, analyzing their organization into core, near-core, and peripheral zones. Special attention is given to semantic relations such as synonymy, antonymy, and hierarchical connections, as well as to word-formation processes and metaphorical extensions. The analysis demonstrates that the concept of “youth” is represented in language as a complex and multi-layered system reflecting biological, psychological, and social aspects of human development.