SYNCHRONIC AND DIALECTIC APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF THE LEXICAL SYSTEM OF THE GERMAN LANGUAGE

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate the lexical system of the German language from a historical perspective by tracing lexical changes across different periods of its development, as well as to analyze the vocabulary of German at the present stage of its functioning. To achieve this aim, the study sets out to trace the development of lexical units and semantic changes over time (from the Indo-European to the Early New High German period); to describe word-formation models and the main sources of lexical enrichment at the early stages of the German language; to identify the most productive word-formation processes in Modern German; and to analyze the functional differentiation of its lexical system. The research methods include comparative-historical, word-formation, and descriptive approaches, and their combined application ensures a comprehensive analysis of the German lexicon in both historical and contemporary perspectives. The results demonstrate that the combined synchronic and diachronic analysis of vocabulary contributes to a deeper understanding not only of the internal mechanisms of language development but also of the cultural and social processes accompanying it. It is established that the majority of lexical items in early Germanic languages were inherited from the Indo-European proto-language, as linguistic contacts were limited and lexical formation occurred primarily within the language system itself, drawing on a shared Indo-European heritage. Conclusions. Throughout its historical development, the German lexicon underwent continuous transformations under the influence of extralinguistic factors, leading to the enrichment of the vocabulary through borrowings and to the expansion of word-formation potential by means of affixation. The lexicon of modern German differs significantly from that of earlier historical stages due to the substantial presence of loanwords, the extensive development of scientific and technical terminology, and a clear social differentiation reflected in the existence of professional jargon and youth slang. A promising direction for further research is the analysis of expressiveness and syntactic features of vocabulary in early Germanic languages.