Abstract

In this paper a semantic analysis is provided of the paratactic conditional perfective present construction (PCPPC) in Russian. This is a conditional construction without a conditional conjunction (subordinator) which contains a perfective present or perfective future tense in the protasis. It is investigated whether, and how, this paratactic conditional construction differs from hypotactic conditional constructions, that is, conditional constructions containing a subordinator. Furthermore, the question is addressed as to how one can explain the difference in meaning between the PCPPC and other conditional constructions. On the basis of corpus data, a number of specific usage types or semantic features is distinguished which are typical for the PCPPC, and absent with hypotactic conditional constructions. It is argued that these features can be explained with reference to general linguistic principles such as iconicity and economy of communication, and frequency of use.

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