The specifics of conditional conjunctions in modern Russian

Abstract

The subject of research are the conjunctions used in a complex sentence to convey conditional relations. In the Russian language, the group of conjunctions capable of expressing the meaning of a condition is quite voluminous. In this article we turn to an insufficiently deeply developed issue, namely, the analysis of conjunctions located on the periphery of the means condition expressions. The purpose of the study is to identify conjunctions based on lexicographic sources and speech contexts that can express a conditional relation, and, using the example of a conjunction "добро бы", describe its semantic and pragmatic potential. The article uses the descriptive method, as well as the method of definitional analysis and elements of component and transformational analysis. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that 1) the analysis of dictionary entries of conditional conjunctions is given, the grouping of conditional conjunctions is described; 2) the experience of a comprehensive analysis of the conjunction of "добро бы" is demonstrated and its additional meanings (presumptive condition, conditionally opposed), as well as modal shades (assessment and desire) are revealed. The conclusions and materials of the study can be used in lectures, special courses and special seminars for students of philological and pedagogical specialties, in improving school curricula, creating textbooks, collections of exercises. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that, despite the many scientific papers devoted to specific conjunctions that are located in the central zone of the means of expressing conditional relations, the question of the interpretative potential of peripheral conditional conjunctions (the number of which is very large) has not been worked out deeply enough.