DERIVATION OF TASTE ADJECTIVES IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Abstract

The present study examines the derivational processes involved in the formation of taste adjectives in the English language. Taste adjectives constitute an important part of the gustatory lexical field and are widely used not only to describe sensory perceptions but also to express emotional, evaluative, and metaphorical meanings. The research focuses on the morphological mechanisms through which taste adjectives are formed, including affixation, compounding, and semantic derivation. The analysis demonstrates that English possesses both primary taste adjectives, such as sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, and a large number of derived forms that enrich the lexical system. The findings reveal that derivation plays a significant role in expanding the semantic and stylistic potential of gustatory vocabulary.