Old slavicisms in modern discourse practices

Abstract

The Old Slavic language is one of the sources of borrowings that entered the Ukrainian language system. Many scientific investigations describe the stylistic functions of old slavonicisms in the texts of classical and modern fiction.
 The article analyzes the usage of elements learned from the Old Slavic language in various discourses.
 Old Slavic elements are an organic part of the lexical composition of religious discourse texts, in particular, preaching discourse addressed to a mass audience. In the works of this genre, lexical units that have counterparts in the Ukrainian language are attested, but the authors also widely use book forms. Many lexemes learned from the Old Slavic language retain their connection with the source language, but have undergone assimilation processes, especially at the morphological level.
 We observe variants of Church Slavonicisms and their Ukrainian equivalents in the texts: древо (tree) – дерево (tree), прихід (coming) – пришестя (coming), родитися (be born) – рождатися (be born).
 The lexemes, which include elements borrowed from the Old Slavic language (for example, with the components blago-), have an evaluative function, which causes a wide range of their compatibility and use in different styles.
 Lexical units with the suffix -тель entered the official business discourse, they are the names of persons by activity, some of which are official names of professions: учитель (teacher), хранитель (keeper), as well as the lexeme вихователь (educator), which was formed on Ukrainian basis, with the help of an Old Slavic word-forming affix. Lexemes to denote persons with the suffix -тель are used in modern legal practice: управитель (manager), довіритель (principal), засідатель (assessor).
 In everyday discourse, the analyzed vocabulary primarily expresses realia related to the religious worldview. It is used in prayer appeals to Saints, discourse formulas of warning, and rituals. Household discourse widely attests to the creation of derivatives from Old Slavic lexemes.