The phenomenon of 'Indian Summer' in the aspect of cultural linguistics

The article is dedicated to the investigation of the two-component nominative unit “Indian Summer” meaning a period of warm weather in autumn. The analysis of the dictionary entries was done, possible theories of its origin were given and the ways of its motivation were found. We used the method of cognitive onomasiological analysis that consists of two stages: the interpretation of the onomasiological structure of the nominative unit and the simulation of the corresponding structure of knowledge about the unit nominated. 5 theories of the origin of the lexical unit “Indian Summer” were found. Each of them has different type of motivation of nomination. The unit investigated has both direct and indirect meanings that can be explained by the significance of the notion in the minds of people. “Indian Summer” is the realia of North America but its lexical equivalents are used all over the world to denote the climatic phenomenon of unusually warm weather in autumn.