DOI: https://doi.org/10.36719/2706-6185/59/57-61
Yegane Babasoy
Nakhchivan State University
PhD student
https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2318-4056
babasoy.yegane@gmail.com
The Nature of Nouns in Linguistics: A Structural, Semantic, and
Cross-Linguistic Analysis
Abstract
This study investigates the nature of nouns from grammatical, semantic, and cross-linguistic viewpoints, highlighting their fundamental importance in both language and cognition. Nouns are analyzed as linguistic elements that represent entities, ideas, and categories, serving as essential components in meaning construction and interpretation. Based on the structuralist approach of Ferdinand de Saussure, nouns are viewed as signs that link form with meaning within a linguistic system. The research examines how nouns are classified according to grammatical features such as number, case, and syntactic roles, as well as semantic distinctions between concrete and abstract notions. Special emphasis is placed on the contrast between proper and common nouns and their functions in reference and categorization. A cross-linguistic comparison involving Azerbaijani language, English language, Russian language, Turkish language, and Chinese language reveals both shared characteristics and structural variation in noun systems. The results indicate that nouns function not only as grammatical units but also as reflections of cognitive mechanisms and cultural frameworks, playing a significant role in how individuals perceive and organize their understanding of the world.
Keywords: nouns, linguistics, semantics, morphology, cross-linguistic comparison, cognition