Towards the description of the concept of value in the Serbian language

Abstract

The word vrednost (?value?) and other related words in the representative dictionaries of the Serbian language (Dictionary of SASA and Dictionary of Matica Srpska) are defined almost identically, but the structure and content of the dictionary entries are significantly different. Since the description of the content of linguistic concepts is based primarily on lexicographic sources, the article points out the aspects of the concept that can be reconstructed on the basis of data presented in the dictionary entries, i.e., by analyzing the order of meanings, the choice of words used in the definitions, as well as examples illustrating the use of the word in context. The obtained data is compared with the conclusions of etymologists and with the result of associative experiments presented in ARSJ. The study shows that value in the language system and in the minds of contemporary Serbian native speakers is based on a comparison of material or non-material (abstract) objects. Positive value of intangible objects is expressed in a conceptually identical way to the expression of a general positive assessment using cognitive metaphors GOOD IS HIGH, GOOD IS HEAVY, GOOD IS BIG. The language material also indicates that value is the result of choice, and that there is a possibility of changing the assessment of an object that is considered to be of value if a situation or conditions change.