Russian Word Formation Research Articles

SYSTEMATICITY OF THE FORMATION OF POTENTIAL WORDS AS AN EXPRESSION OF THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE LEXICAL SYSTEM OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE

The work is devoted to the study of potential nouns and adjectives. The purpose of the study is to identify the place of potential words in the word-formation system of the Russian language. The following methods of linguistic analysis were used in the work: a synchronous-descriptive method, including observation, comparison, juxtaposition, generalization, interpretation of linguistic data, and system analysis method. The material for the description was mainly the works of E. Yevtushenko. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that potential words are a product of speech, not language. But they represent part of the general word formation and stand out in it. Potential words are laid down by the word-formation system of the language itself, created based on productive models of the Russian word-formation system. They can fill in the empty cells of word-formation paradigms using productive word-formation models. The study of trends in the development of modern Russian word formation has an undoubted theoretical significance for the development of the science of word formation, which makes it possible to study the mechanism of the emergence of new words. Also, it makes it possible to practically apply the findings in university teaching of word formation, lexicology of the Russian language, in the practice of compiling dictionaries, etc. KEYWORDS: derivation, methods of derivation, morphemes, derived word, potential word (potentialism).

PROPER NAME AS AN EMOTIVE LEXICAL UNIT UNDER BILINGUALISM IN A MULTIETHNIC LINGUISTIC ENVIRONMENT IN THE LIGHT OF LANGUAGE POSITIVITY THEORY

The article deals with the linguistic category of emotivity. Informal forms of proper names are very re-levant onomastic material for the interpretation and substantiation of the theory of language positivity, since the word-building formants involved in their making, even outside the context and consituation, are able to convey the fi ne nuances of positive human emotions. The purpose of this research is to prove that anthroponymic emotives are both means of explication and implication, manifestation and concealment of emotions. To achieve the goal, a sur-vey of respondents was conducted. The questions used a sample of the most popular, rare and average frequency names in Bashkortostan for 2022, including female names like Amina, Octavia and Valeria, and male names such as Amin, Justin and Vladimir. A number of questions asked about the proper names of informants and their attitudes towards the use of diminutive forms. The analysis of responses showed that most respondents perceived these forms positively. The main scope of these names was limited to communication with loved ones. The frequency of use of informal vocatives in 57.1% of responses was determined by the situation. Participants in the survey off ered 24–80 variants for diminutive forms, which according to respondents implied a subjective positive evaluation. Among the diminutive suffi xes of anthroponyms, the most positive emotional connotation is carried by suffi xes such as -ochkand -ik. Linguistic and cultural analysis has allowed us to identify value dominants and stereotypes of communica-tive behavior among linguistic personalities. The extralinguistic interpretation of diminutive proper names provides a reason to regard onomastic units (anthroponyms) as positively connotated emotives. Based on the results of the research, we can conclude that the ethnically specifi c feature of speech in bilingual conditions, using the onomastics of the Republic of Bashkortostan as an example, is the tradition of person naming that has developed in the native language as well as the use of Russian word-formation patterns.

SYNCHRONOUS AND DIACHRONIC ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX SUFFIXAL FORMANTS AS A METHOD OF THEIR STUDY

Particular characteristics of suffixal complication, which has an articulated dynamic nature, require the application of synchronous and diachronic approaches to their study. Synchronous and diachronic study of complex formants implies the consideration of the previous historical changes when analysing synchronous states, as well as the study of dynamic processes in the word-formational, lexical and semantic subsystems of a language in determinate historical stages of its development. The method of synchronous and diachronic analysis of word-formation models with genetically complex word-formation affixes is presented by the example of the suffix -nits(a) with an object meaning. Synchronous and diachronic analysis of derived words with the suffix -nits(a), which implies the study of systemic relations between the nouns with the suffix -nits(a) in the Old Russian in the different stages of its development, reveals a genetic connection and a historical interaction of the modern Russian word-formation types with the suffixes -nits(a) and -n(ya), which are close semantically and include the derived words with the meaning of container and premises. The suffix -nits(a) with an object meaning is formed in the suffixal complication models “-n(ya) + -its(a)” in the nomina loci group. During its historical development, an extension of the semantic scope of application of the complex formant -nits(a) is observed, and its meaning transcends the boundaries of the names of premises group. The structural and functional evolvement of a new complex formant is empowered both by the peculiarities of nomina loci derivation and by the analogous influence of structurally and semantically close lexical units. The historical development of the suffix -nits(a) results in the following changes in its relations with the suffix -n(ya): the transition from the motivation relations to the relations of co-derivation, the increased productivity of the new complex formant, its prevalence in the competition with the genetically related suffix -n(ya).

Cognitive-Communicative Approach to the Word-Formation Nests and Subnests

The article is about correlation of the semantics of a polysemantic base word and the semantics of its derivatives within а word-formation nest. Special emphasis is paid to the processes of Russian word-formation, according to which derivatives are distributed in the word-formation nest. A word-formation nest is considered to be a cognitive-communicative unit of language consciousness with sub-nests which interprets separate fragments of reality.

Verification of the effectiveness of vocabulary learning strategies using Russian word formation based on empirical research

Verification of the effectiveness of vocabulary learning strategies using Russian word formation based on empirical research

On The Question Of Studying The Morphology Of Complex Units Of Russian Word Formation

On The Question Of Studying The Morphology Of Complex Units Of Russian Word Formation

Наименование лиц по их роду жизнедеятельности в современной коммуникации (к вопросу о продуктивности и регулярности семантики и формы в словообразовании)

The names of person by activity kind and correlative forms of feminine gender are considering. In word-formation as unit realm in their analogic-individual connections, individuality of words by these connections is slackening, and regular, standard facts at head role move out. The means of expressing the word-formative meaning is not only the affix, but its combination with a certain circle of underlying stems. Typical properties don’t exist out of semantic connection with the individual properties, and the individual don’t dissolve in the typical. In Russian word-formation there are the regular systematic occurrences, and irregular nonsystematic ones. Systemic phenomena in a functioning language are interrupted by asystemic ones. The products of word-building activity are generated by certain mechanisms.
 On the other hand, word-building products undergo structural processing and are accepted or not accepted by the language system and communicative practice. All basic models of name of person by activity kind and nomination of gender accordance in contemporary Russian language, their place in the system of language is revealing.

Активизация англоязычных морфем в современном русском словообразовании

Активизация англоязычных морфем в современном русском словообразовании

Developing the skills of a word-formation analysis in Chinese students

This article is devoted to the problem of international students’ step-by-step study of Russian word formation basics. The article puts forward the suggestion that the study of the Russian word-formation features should initially be based on the linguistic structure of the student’s native language, in particular, Chinese. Taking into account the L1 characteristic features will allow the teacher to create a certain logic for presenting the linguistic material, to detect similarities and differences between the mother tongue and the target language. Thus, the understanding of the typological differences between the Russian and Chinese languages highlights the need to develop the skills for isolating morphemes in a word, especially the root morpheme, and only then to introduce tasks, focused on the assimilation of certain, primarily productive word-formation models, into the educational process. We propose to use stylistic comments when working with derivative words of productive word-formation types and to use graphs that allow the students to understand the mechanisms of word production in the Russian language. By gradually expanding the range of analyzed lexemes, we develop the skill of isolating derivational affixes, primarily regular ones, teach international students to determine the word–formation meaning depending on the nature of the generating basis, to see and explain semantic shifts in derived formations, contributing to a better understanding of the pair “derivational base” – “derivative”. Moreover, it will be a serious reason for expanding the students’ vocabulary. The presented analytical work on the word-formation material is supposed to be carried out taking into account the principles of clarity, consistency and structuring.

О гибридном словосложении в русском языке в эпоху глобализации

The article describes in detail some derivational elements involved in the process of agglutination occurring in word-formation system of modern Russian, analyzing semantic and functional characteristics of these word-building elements. The comprehensive analysis of the collected hybrid derivatives shows that globalization and the Anglo-American ‘linguistic hegemony’ increased the productivity of international morphemes, penetrating into the Russian word-formation system through the mass media. Modern Russian language has been undergoing noticeable changes in word-formation models and in the inventory of actively productive derivational affixes. The following processes are noticeable: 1) resemantization and activation of international affixes; 2) development of new hybrid derivative models; 3) creation with the help of morphemes abstracted from composites new formally and semantically condensed nouns, which allows to notice an agglutination’s tendency.

Word-Building Type as a Functional Unit of the Lexical System of the Russian Language in the Aspect of Quantitative Derivatology

The author chose to look for explanatory functional models of word formation not outside, but inside the language system, i.e., in its lexical and syntactic subsystems. The research used Runet search engines to identify the quantitative patterns of the Russian word-formation system, namely the word-formation type as its central unit. The quantitative characteristics of the word reflect its speech use and thus can serve as research method. The word-formation type appeared to combine derived lexical units with different quantitative potentials, i.e., unequal frequency. This phenomenon is a factor of the functional stratification of the word-formation type. The study revealed the patterns of this stratification. The quantitative study of Russian substantive derivatives and their use in speech proved the effectiveness of the applied approach in identifying the functional and semantic variability within the corresponding word-formation types. Internet statistics made it possible to give a quantitative description of the lexical implementation of word-formation types, as well as word nests and paradigms, and to project their potential into their internal characteristics.

Роль морфонологических элементов в словообразовании абстрактных имён существительных с суффиксом -ость (-есть)

The issue of morphonology status and units of its description remains relevant in modern linguistics. The purpose of study is to describe the morphonological rules for choosing suffix -ost’ (-est’), to investigate the hierarchies of morphonological units that determine the synthesis of the sound structure of derivatives under study, consisting of a set of stress morphonemes, pho-nemes alternation and allomorphs alternation. We mainly use the descriptive method, which in-cludes such techniques as observation, comparison, juxtaposition, generalization, interpretation. Based on the description, we conclude that word formation of considered class of words is distin-guished by fusion, and not agglutination. The choice of an allomorph depends on morphological characteristics of generator, and allomorph determines the stress and the type of derivative's alter-nant, that is, the morphological unit includes phonemes alternation, stress alternation and allo-morphs alternation of the suffix, which are 3 morphonological units. The results of study, in par-ticular, the significance of suffix in describing the theoretical foundations for describing the mor-phonological phenomena of Russian language, as well as the model of morphonological descrip-tion of Russian word formation, make a certain contribution to the development of morphonology as an independent science. The practical significance lies in the fact that the conclusions and materials of study can be used in the compilation of special morphonological dictionaries.

THE ROLE OF THE SUFFIX IN THE PROCESS OF SYNTHESIS OF THE MORPHONOLOGICAL APPEARANCE OF A WORD IN RUSSIAN WORD FORMATION (on the basis of nouns)

The purpose of the study is to describe the morphonological rules for choosing the allomorph of the suffix -ost (-is), to study its role in the formation of the morphonological image of the derived word. The description of abstract feminine nouns with the suffix -ost (-is) made it possible to find out the following dependence: first, the morphonological characteristics of the stressed and alternations predict the allomorph of the suffix (a specific manifestation of the word-forming suffix), and the allomorph determines the stress and consonant outcome of the stem of the derived word. A certain hierarchy of morphonological units that determine the synthesis of the sound structure of the studied derivatives is revealed. It consists of a set of morphonemes of stress, alternation of phonemes and alternation of allomorphs. The suffix in its function turned out to be equivalent to stress and alternation of phonemes indicating the fusional nature of the studied class of words, which refutes the traditional point of view ascribing dominance over stress and alternation to the suffix. The results of the study, in particular, the significance of the suffix in the description of the theoretical foundations for describing the morphonological phenomena of the Russian language, as well as the model of the morphonological description of Russian word formation itself, make a certain contribution to the development of morphonology as an independent science. The practical significance of the work lies in the fact that the findings and materials of the study can be used in compiling special morphonological dictionaries.

The Adaptation of Loan Interjection <i>wow</i> in the Russian Language through the Prism of Modern Explanatory Dictionary: From Slang to Everyday Speech, from Everyday Speech to Terminology

The article considers the adaptation process of the loan interjection wow that was borrowed into Russian from American English in the early 1990s and at first was mostly used as slang, but later on it entered everyday speech. The research is carried out as a part of the project aimed at exploring the lexis of the modern Russian language, i.e. its main functional and chronological varieties and lexical categories with the use of “The Dictionary of the 21st Century Russian Language”. The novelty and specificity of the investigation lies in a comprehensive study of Russian lexis using a new approach “from dictionary to language” in contrast to the traditional one “from language to dictionary”. The purpose of the article is to demonstrate the potential of this principle in practice, that is to describe some interesting phenomena in modern Russian using the material of several entries, – namely вау (wow), вау- (wow-), вау-эффект (wow effect), вау-фактор (wow factor) – selected from the dictionary mentioned above. This series clearly demonstrates the phenomena typical of modern Russian, that is the blurring of the boundaries between colloquial speech and other stylistic registers and the active interpenetration of words from one stylistic variety to another. The analysis of the dictionary entries revealed the gradual process of penetration of the interjection wow into the Russian language through its adaptation. It may be converted into a noun, a predicative or an analytic adjective, it may be reduplicated to indicate the intensity of surprise/ admiration, it may be used as a productive derivational element and even as a component of some special terms. This process is extraordinary for the Russian language, since, firstly, it affects one of the most stable groups of lexical items, and secondly, it is associated with acquiring a terminological meaning by a word component initially used as an exclamation to express a certain emotion. These new linguistic processes are largely due to the influence of the English language. This influence is so great that we can observe not only an active penetration of the Anglo-American interjection wow into the Russian everyday speech – emotive interjections were hardly ever borrowed – but also its integration into the Russian word-formation system.

The types of truncated derivatives in contemporary Russian speech

This article studies a highly productive way of Russian word formation — truncation. This method of word formation, considered to be the "youngest", plays an important role in the contemporary compressive word formation. The purpose of this article lies in identifying new trends in the area of truncation in the Russian speech of the early 21st century. The author reveals the structural types of truncation and determines their relationship in the contemporary Russian language. The largest group of truncated derivatives includes personal nouns; there are also other new subject groups of the truncated units noted. The results show that truncation in modern Russian speech is becoming more widespread than before and it begins to extend to other parts of speech besides nouns. The author pays attention to the interaction of truncation with the suffixation characteristic of contemporary Russian speech. The derivatives, formed by truncation, are different from univerbated nouns, which are formally attributed by adjectives, which are part of the substantive word formation; thus, a criterion for differentiating truncated univerbated words seems in order. The material for analysis includes modern fiction, texts from mass media, and oral recordings. Using them has helped in revealing the dynamics of truncation processes.

CHUVASH SUBSTRATE OF CHEBOKSARY REGIONAL DIALECT OF RUSSIAN

The article is devoted to the study of the peculiarities of the Russian colloquial speech of the inhabitants of Cheboksary, the capital city of the Chuvash Republic, Russia. It is believed that it was the Chuvash language that had a considerable influence on the formation of these peculiarities. The purpose of the paper is to highlight the role of the Chuvash substrate in the formation of the regional dialect of Russian in Cheboksary. The traditional linguistic methods are applied to analyze the language material composed of natural discourses of inhabitants of Cheboksary. The culture of speech is in the focus of the research done on the linguistic data provided by both the Russian and the Chuvash scholars. The authors come to the conclusion that the Russian language constantly exposed to the Chuvash linguistic and cultural environment has been experiencing significant local influence and herewith acquiring unique features. Substrate elements are realized at all levels of the language system. In the Cheboksary regional dialect, the Chuvash influence on the Russian language is expressed in an increase in the frequency of Russian language units, which most closely correspond to the Chuvash counterparts. Phonetic markers are the major elements that make the speech of the residents of Cheboksary sound specifically. Orthoepic peculiarities of Cheboksary residents in a number of cases are characterized by their pronouncing certain words literally and shifting stress in some frequently used words. The lexical specificity of the Russian colloquial speech of the inhabitants of Cheboksary is accounted for by a number of Chuvashisms, local urbanonyms and semantic calques of Chuvash words. Morphological markers are the result of the specific use of Russian language units due to the influence of the process of acculturation. The word-building markers of the Cheboksary regional dialect are associated with the use of derivational formants of Chuvash origin in Russian word formation and Russian suffixes in the composition of Chuvash words. The syntactic level markers are represented in sentence models and by their peculiar features. In the Cheboksary regional dialect instead of Russian SVO sentence model Chuvash SOV sentence model is preferred. It is worth mentioning also that participial constructions are characteristic of oral speech. The authors argue that the regional dialect of Russian in Cheboksary is a variant of the Russian literary language. Its objective existence and functioning is the result of its exposure to the influence of the Chuvash language and culture. The peculiarities of the regional dialect of Russian are revealed in codified language units that have experienced the interfering impact of the Chuvash language.

Word-formation motivation as a means of lexicalizing derivative words in the classroom in Russian as a foreign language

The article examines the place of the word-formation component of the communicative competence of foreign students in the process of their learning Russian as a foreign language. The word-formation component, along with other linguistic components, participates in the formation of the communicative competence of foreign students, however, the problem of Russian word formation remains insufficiently developed in the linguodidactic plan. The author expresses his opinion that the increase in the vocabulary of foreign students should be accompanied by the systematization of lexical units, taking into account their derivational connections and relations. Therefore, when lexicalization, one should use not the selection of synonyms or the descriptive method, which leads to the mechanical memorization of the meaning, but by means of correlation with the same root words, to activate in the minds of foreign students the living connections of the lexical units of the Russian language. This applies not only to derivatives of words associated with generating relations of full direct motivation, but also to those derivatives where these connections are not explicitly expressed. Such an interpretation through a productive word not only makes the meaning of the new lexeme understandable, facilitates its memorization, but also creates a single picture of lexical and word-formation relationships within the language, forms a systemic understanding of the language among students. The skills of correlating a derivative word with its derivative, obtained in the study of Russian as a foreign language, make it possible to understand the meanings of unfamiliar words. The speed of memorizing the meanings of derived words in this case directly depends on the understanding of the word-formation structure of the word. This technique will greatly facilitate the development of the vocabulary and will contribute to the formation of a holistic view of the language as a system among foreign students.

Verbs with the Prefix za- in Russian dialects of the Amur Region

The article deals with verb derivatives with the prefix za- on the dialectal material that is poorly studied in this aspect — the Russian dialects of the Amur region. The derivational and grammatical meanings of the derived verbs with this formant are characterized in comparison with their literary counterparts. The peculiarities of semantics are revealed and a typology of dialectisms with this prefix is proposed. It is concluded that word formation in this group of dialects is a peculiar form of manifestation of specific and general Russian word-formation tendencies. The relevance and novelty of the work is due to both the general unresolved problem of describing the meanings of Russian verb prefixes, and insufficient knowledge of the specifics of verbal word formation in dialects. In addition, the study of this group of dialects in the derivational aspect is necessary for the construction of a typology of dialects of the Far East and the preparation of a monographic description of them. Turning to the study of prefix verb dialect lexicon can contribute to the introduction of new interesting facts into scientific circulation. Turning to dialects of secondary education, which are under the strongest influence of the literary language, can help to reveal the dynamics of transformations of prefixed meanings.

Study of the Effectiveness of Russian-Persian Dictionaries in the Exact Translation of Russian Adjectives-Paronyms

There is no standard view about the concept of paronyms, but generally they are defined as words, that are pronounced or written similarly, but have different lexical meanings. The formal similarity of paronyms often complicates their differentiation, and therefore paronyms are included in problematic objects of teaching Russian as a foreign language, as well as translating texts from Russian and into Russian. Dictionaries as the main means of teaching and translation can help to overcome this difficulty. This research analyzes the effectiveness of three Russian-Persian dictionaries (“Russian-Persian dictionary” edited by I.K. Ovchinnikova, “Russian-Persian dictionary” edited by G.A. Voskanyan, “Russian-Persian dictionary” edited by GA Voskanyan [new edition]) in translation of Russian adjectives-paronyms. Among various parts of speech, we chose adjectives due to their frequency among paronyms in Russian language. For this purpose, 50 pairs of paronyms were chosen from Dictionary of Russian Paronyms by Olga Vishniyakova. The results of the analysis show that Russian-Persian dictionaries cannot always provide the necessary assistance to Iranian students in overcoming their difficulties in understanding and translating Russian adjectives-paronyms. Moreover, student’s and translator’s knowledge about Russian word formation in many cases can help him to overcome the limitations of dictionaries.

Active Processes in the Vocabulary and Word Formation of the Russian Language in the Era of Coronavirus: Linguo-Cognitive Aspect

Semantic, lexical and derivational features of the emergence and spread of new phenomena in the speech practice of Russian speakers of the latest period associated with the COVID-19 pandemic are investigated. A linguo-cognitive interpretation of active processes in Russian vocabulary and Russian word formation of the era of coronavirus as formats of knowledge about the changed reality and the new conditions of communication associated with these changes is given. The methods of linguo-cognitive description of the “language of culture” and the method of analyzing active processes at different levels of the language system and methods of its speech implementation are used. The research materials are a dynamic and actively developing Russian-language segment of Internet communication and text data of the Russian National Corpus. Special attention is paid to three groups of new phenomena in the vocabulary of the Russian language associated with the mental and cultural development of the “coronavirus” conceptual space by native speakers: lexical-semantic, lexical and lexical-word-formation innovations. It is shown that active processes of the semantic type find their expression in the phenomena of “new polysemy” and “new homonymy”, as well as non-usual semantic narrowing. It is concluded that new words and expressions not only capture the emergence of new realities of life with coronavirus, but also contribute to the understanding of the changed social reality.