Conceptualizing “Spirituality” in the English Language: A Semantic Analysis with Implications for its Understanding and Application

In this article, the changes in the meaning of the word “spirituality” in the English language are analyzed. The tasks of the research are (1) scientific-theoretical justification of the conceptual field of “spirituality” in the English national linguistic landscape; (2) determine units related to the semantic field of “spirituality” in English; (3) conceptualization of the system of units with a common theme “spirituality” and determination of its social significance; (4) identifying the microsystems of the semantic field of “spirituality”; (5) substantiating the conceptual essence of the semantic field of “spirituality”, studying the scope of relations. The article analyzes the characteristics of words with one or multiple meanings in the semantic field of “spirituality”. The semantic field is divided into central and peripheral limits, with thematic groups. The opinions of notable scholars about the most active semes belonging to the core of this microfield are analyzed. The literature analysis section cites the works of famous scientists worldwide and their views on the semantic field of “spirituality”. It is clarified that English explanatory dictionaries contain words that reflect national spirituality and have gained importance in terms of quantity and quality. The research process used various methods, including classification, transformational analysis, description, linguistic and cultural analysis, component analysis, and conceptual analysis. The hierarchical relationship of the semantic field of “spirituality” is formed by a complex system of thematic groups and spiritual nests, which form the semantic structure and lexical layer of the paradigm of the semantic field of “spirituality”. The core realization process in the microsystem of the semantic field of “spirituality” is manifested in the strengthening of the differential schema of the directly and indirectly related words, the activation of the central schema, and the realization of the central schema with the peripheral schema by identifying the units related to this domain.