Article

Name: Interpretative potential of the evaluative expressions po-detski (childishly) and po-vzroslomu (maturely): the choice of a speaker

Authors: Olga А. Ruzha

Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

The paper analyzes the semantics and functioning of the comparative-suggestive adverbs po-detski (childishly) and po-vzroslomu (maturely). The meanings of these words are scarcely reflected in the Russian language dictionaries. The analysis of the materials from the National Corpus of the Russian language has revealed the evaluative semes in the meanings of the words under study. The connection between the expressed evaluation and the societal norms governing the behavior of individuals within a specific age group has been established. The norm expressed by the evaluative adverb po-detski is associated with naivety, trustworthiness, spontaneity, immaturity, and other characteristics of a child. The evaluative adverb po-vzroslomu is characterized by emotional restraint and rationality, seriousness, strength, thoroughness, etc. The discrepancies with the speaker’s stereotypical view of child or adult behavior are expressed in using po-detski and po-vzroslomu as evaluative nominations. The groups of verbs, adverbs, and adjectives have been identified, revealing the evaluative semantics of the words po-detski and po-vzroslomu and determining the specifics of their functioning in speech. The object of evaluation is analyzed from the position of compliance/non-compliance with the age stated by the evaluation lexicon: both lexemes can be used in relation to a child and an adult. A conclusion is made that the content of po-detski and po-vzroslomu assessments, despite the apparent simplicity of interpretation, turns out to be more profound and ambiguous.

Keywords: evaluation, evaluative semantics, evaluation criteria, comparative-suggestive adverbs, age characteristics

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