Abstract: The subject of the research is the pronouns. The purpose of the research is to describe their semantics and functional and syntactical properties based on the analysis of one of Mordovian languages, the Erzya language. The research objectives include the following: 1) to describe the main kinds of pronouns depending on their functional and semantic properties; 2) to define their role in the language and speech (or text). The theoretical and methodological basis of the research includes researches devoted to the grammar of Finno-Ugric languages, in particular, Mordovian languages. The main research method used by the author is the descriptive method. The author used it to analyze semantics of pronouns and functions they perform in a particular context. The author selected literary texts written by Mordovian writers as research material. Based on her analysis, Vodyasova came to the conclusion that there are the following kinds of pronouns in the Erzya language depending on their semantics and functional and syntactical properties: personal pronouns, emphatic pronouns, сcount pronouns, reciprocal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, defining pronouns, reflexive pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and negative pronouns. These parts of speech acquire their particular meanings only during connected speech because they are used as the means of encouraging communication in the first place. The theoretical and practical importance of the research is caused by the fact that the author creates prerequisites for further analysis of parts of speech. The material offered by the author can be of use to linguists as well as PhD and Master Degree students majoring in philology. It would be useful to use the results of the research for basic and integrative courses and research projects. 

Abstract: The subjects of analysis in the article are the concepts LIFE and DEATH, which represent a problem of the self-consciousness and its place in the society. They constitute the conceptual dyad, because they relate, compare, evaluate in the language consciousness, constantly. This is the most ancient, the basic unit of a language picture of the world. The aim of employment is to describe their metaphorical modeling material of one of the Finno-Ugric languages – the Erzya language. The research of problems we were determined as follows: 1) to identify the key words-representants concepts of life and death; 2) among the selected token to identify those who have a metaphorical meaning; 3) to set the context, revealing the metaphorical concepts. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study was the work on cognitive linguistics by A. Wierzbicka, S. G. Vorkachev, E. A. Cypanov and others. The main method was defined descriptive. It is used to study the content side of the lexemes-represetants and their functioning in certain contexts. The material for analysis served as precedent and literary texts. Based on the research we came to the conclusion that the conceptual dyad has universal and specific symptoms that are caused by language and cultural traditions of the Mordovian people, the specifics of his thinking, principles of coding information. Theoretical and practical significance of the work is to create preconditions for the further study of the problem of the relationship between language, thought and culture of the Finno-Ugric peoples, the development of cognitive areas in the Finno-Ugric linguistics, as proposed methodology concept study can be used to identify means of verbalization of concepts and of closely and far related other Finno-Ugric languages.

Abstract: The subject of analysis in the article is the metalexeme as the class of words with the highest level of generalization. Research objectives include: 1) to define the class of metalexemes; 2) to describe the main features thereof; 3) to determine the functions that they perform in the literary text. According to the author, metalexemes have the following features: broad conceptual basis allowing to relate it to a wider class of denotations; absence of a definite denotative meaning and high level of abstraction generalized in the language system; indirect nominaton and, consequently, sinsemantia. The descriptive research method was used based on observations of metalexemes and their functioning in the literary texts written by Mordovian writers in Erzya. Based on the research results the author concluded that the marked words are often used by writers for shorter names of a detailed written fact, phenomenon, or a whole episode for its generalization, summarization and qualification . These words generally reflect the author's evaluation of the reported and repeat the previous part of the text or any of its component at a higher level of abstraction (anaphoric replacement) and can also be used in the exposition, thus organizing all further description or narration (cataphoric replacement).

Abstract: The subject of analysis is the concept of religion which represents the problem of man's self-consciousness and his place in society. This is one of the most important concepts in the linguistic world-view of almost any nation because, in spite of the general level of religiosity, people practice different kinds of confessions. It is also one of the most complex concepts due to its contradictory nature and theological orientation because not only representatives of different linguistic communities, but also bearers of the same culture who follow different confessions, for example, may have different attributes of the aforesaid concept. Due to the enormous differential field of the concept, the article considers the representation of the concept “religion” basing on the novel by A.M. Doronin “The Shadow of the bells”. Research objectives: 1) to define of lexical units Corps-religionims, used by the author for the category of sacred objects, and classify them by thematic groups; 2) to selected of among lexical units to identify those with metaphoric values; 3) to installe of contexts, that reveal the nature of metaphorical concept. As a method of research was defined based on the descriptive observation of religionims and their functioning in certain contexts. Based on our investigation we concluded that, A.M. Doronin embodies the Orthodox world-view. The basic concept is getting the concept of "religion", which feature is its metaphorical notion that finds its linguistic confirmation text works. A characteristic feature of the language of the work is the presence of a large number of religionyms associated with the people’s life (rituals, prayer, fasting, religious holidays). Among the most significant substantive components of concept 10 contexts. They contain emotional, aesthetic and artistic elements, are a testament to the metaphorical concept, its contents can be stated as an objective individual and collective spiritual relationship of God and man, based on faith in God and man worship him.