Semantic and pragmatic differentiation of key synonyms of the HAPPINESS (СЧАСТЬЕ) concept in contemporary Russian

The aim of this study is to create a verifiable, multi-layered model of the lexico-semantic field of the HAPPINESS (СЧАСТЬЕ) concept in contemporary Russian, reflecting its core-periphery structure, differential parameters, and pragmatic niches of synonyms. The scientific novelty of this work lies in the fact that, for the first time, a multi-layered model of the lexico-semantic field of HAPPINESS has been developed based on a combined analysis of explanatory, synonymic, and corpus data from the Russian language. Within this model, three key subdomains are empirically identified – emotional joy, spiritual bliss, and favorable outcome / well-being – and a set of their differential parameters is established (intensity of experience, temporal duration, degree of controllability, value-spiritual depth). The study convincingly demonstrates that none of the examined synonym lexemes are complete equivalents of the basic concept; each is anchored to its own stylistic and pragmatic niche, which allows for refining the criteria of synonymy for abstract axiological concepts and, for the first time, describing a systematic hierarchy of “semantic lacunae” between them. As a result, a multi-level model of the lexical-semantic field HAPPINESS was formed, in which three key subspheres were identified: 1) emotional joy (радость (joy), восторг (delight), ликование (jubilation)); 2) spiritual bliss (блаженство (bliss), благодать (grace), упоение (rapture)) and 3) favorable outcome / well-being (удача (luck), успех (success), благополучие (well-being)). It is shown that none of the considered lexemes are absolute equivalents of the basic concept: each is anchored to a specific pragmatic niche and style of usage. The data obtained refine the content of the HAPPINESS concept in the Russian linguistic worldview and create a foundation for further cross-cultural and diachronic studies of emotionally-valued vocabulary.