Article

Name: The role of auxiliary verbs in the composition of the Russian verbal periphrasis (a case study of modern electronic media)

Authors: Yan Tszaikhuei

Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Linguistics

Abstract:

The paper explores the definition and typology of periphrastic expressions in both Russian and Romance languages, taking into consideration a range of linguistic criteria. Given its multidimensional nature, periphrasis cannot be specified in terms of subject, resulting in ambiguity in its designation. Most Russian linguists consider periphrasis as a descriptive expression that may be ambiguous but serves to convey the meaning of another expression or word. The verbal periphrasis holds a significant position in language, serving an indispensable function in conveying the meaning of actions. In the Russian language, verbal periphrasis is a binomial compound construction, with its basic model typically involving an auxiliary verb and a verbal or nominal form denoting an action. Within this model, four structures can be identified, including (1) verb + verbal noun, (2) verb + substantive phrase, (3) verb + primitive noun, and (4) verb + infinitive. The auxiliary verb within the verbal periphrasis assumes a functional role while retaining its lexical meaning to some extent. Semantically, ten main types of auxiliary verbs can be identified in verb periphrasis in Russian. These express (1) implementation, (2) phasing and other aspectual values, (3) causativity, (4) conversivity, (5) explication, (6) manifestation, (7) operation, (8) participation, (9) modality, and (10) intensity. The auxiliary verb used in the verbal periphrasis undergoes a process of desemanticization while occasionally preserving a partial semantic significance or acquiring a novel meaning.

Keywords: verbal periphrasis, auxiliary verb, syntactic semantics, causative, conversive, action semantics

Bibliography:

Apresyan Yu. D. Sinonimicheskie sredstva yazyka i pravila perifrazirovaniya [Synonymous means of language and rules of periphrasing]. Russkii yazyk v natsional’noi shkole. 1972, no. 3, pp. 19–27.

Bel’chikov Yu. A. Perifraza [Paraphrase]. In: Lingvisticheskii entsiklopedicheskii slovar’ [Linguistic encyclopedic dictionary]. V. N. Yartseva (Ed.). Moscow, Sov. entsikl., 1990, 371 р.

Bel’chikov Yu. A. Perifraza [Paraphrase]. In: Russkii yazyk. Entsiklopediya [Russian language. Encyclopedia]. Moscow, Sov. entsikl., 1979, pp. 203–204.

Byteva T. I. Fenomen perifrazy v russkom literaturnom yazyke: problema semantiki i leksikografii [Phenomenon of periphrase in the Russian literary language: the problem of semantics and lexicography]. Dr. philol. sci. diss. Krasnoyarsk, 2002, 352 p.

Byteva T. I. K probleme lingvostranovedcheskoy leksikografii (na materiale russkikh perifraz) [On the problem of linguistic and cultural lexicography (on the basis of Russian paraphrases)]. In: Problemy intensivnogo obucheniya nerodnym yazykam: Tez. dokl. mezhdunar. nauch. metod. konf. “Gertsenovskie chteniya” 26–28 maya 1994 [Problems of intensive teaching of non-native languages: Proc. of the Intern. sci.-method. conf. “Herzen Readings” May 26–28, 1994]. St. Petersburg, 1994, pp. 116–117.

Golub I. B. Stilistika sovremennogo russkogo yazyka. Leksika. Fonika [The stylistics of the modern Russian language. Vocabulary. Phonica]. Moscow, Vyssh. shk., 1976, 208p.

Grekhneva L. V. Perifraza kak lingvisticheskoe yavlenie (na materiale russkogo literaturnogo yazyka kontsa 18 – nachala 19 vv.) [Periphrasis as a linguistic phenomenon (on the material of the Russian literary language of the late 18th – early 19th century]. Abstract of Cand. philol. sci. diss. Nizhny Novgorod, 1999, 20 p.

Grigorev V. P. K problem perifrazy [On the problems of periphras]. In: Poetika slova [Poetics of the word]. Moscow, Nauka, 1979, pp. 177–199.

Kuz’menkova V. A. Tipologiya opisatel’nykh predikatov i ikh analogov v sovremennom russkom yazyke [Typology of descriptive predicates and their analogues in modern Russian]. Cand. philol. sci. diss. Moscow, 2000, 202 p.

Laguzova E. N. Opisatel’nyy glagol’no-imennoy oborot kak edinitsa nominatsii [Descriptive verbal-nominal turnover as a unit of nomination]. Abstract of Dr. philol. sci. diss. Moscow, 2003, 35 p.

Makarova S. Ya. Perifraza v sovremennom russkom literaturnom yazyke (na materiale gazet) [Paraphrase in the modern Russian literary language (based on newspapers)]. In: Soderzhanie i metodika prepodavaniya russkogo yazyka v sredney i vysshey shkole: Materialy XV Nauch.-metod. konf. Povolzh’ya [Content and methodology of teaching Russian language in secondary and higher schools: Proc. of the XV Volga region sci. and methodol. conf.]. Volgograd, 1972, pp. 55–58.

Moskvin V. P. Vyrazitel’nye sredstva sovremennoy russkoy rechi: Tropy i figury. Obshchaya i chastnye klassifikatsii. Terminologicheskiy slovar’ [Expressive means of modern Russian speech: Paths and figures. General and private classifications. Terminological dictionary]. Moscow, Lenand, 2006, 373 p.

Ozhegov S. I. Slovar’ russkogo yazyka [Dictionary of the Russian language]. 6nd ed. stereotip. Moscow, Sov. entsikl.,1964, 900 p.

Paklina L. Ya. Iskusstvo inoskazatel’noy rechi. Ezopovskoe slovo v khudozhestvennoy literature i publitsistike [The art of allegorical speech. Aesopian word in fiction and journalism]. Saratov, SSU Publ., 1971, 61 p.

Pokhmel’nykh V. V. Glagol’no-imennye perifrasticheskie oboroty sovremennogo russkogo yazyka [Verb-nominal periphrastic turns of the modern Russian language]. Cand. philol. sci. diss. Moscow, 1985, 273 p.

Rozanova G. Z. Nekotorye aspekty semantiki perifraza [Some aspects of periphrase semantics]. In: Aktual’nye problemy leksikologii, frazeologii i stilistiki: Tez. dokl. nauch. konf. aspirantov 23–24 marta 1971 [Actual problems of lexicology, phraseology and stylistics: Proc. of the scientific conference of graduate students March 23–24, 1971]. Moscow, 1971, pp. 95–97.

Rozental’ D. E., Golub I. B. Sekrety stilistiki. Pravila khoroshei rechi [Secrets of stylistics. Rules of good speech]. Moscow, Astris Rolf, 1996, pp. 105–110.

Rozental’ D. E., Telenkova M. A. Slovar’-spravochnik lingvisticheskikh terminov: Posobie dlya uchitelya [Dictionary-reference book of linguistic terms: A guide for the teacher]. 3nd ed., rev. and suppl. Moscow, Prosveshchenie, 1985, 399 p.

Shmeleva T. V. Semanticheskiy sintaksis: Tekst lektsiy iz kursa “Sovremennyy russkiy yazyk” [Semantic Syntax: Text of lectures from the course “Modern Russian language”]. Krasnoyarsk, KSU, 1994, 47 p.

Shteynberg N. M. Ob odnoy slozhnoy glagol’noy konstruktsii v sovremennom frantsuzskom yazyke [On one complex verb construction in modern French]. In: Romano-germanskaya filologiya: Sb.statey v chest’ akademika V. M. Shishmareva [Romano-Germanic philology: Collection of articles in honor of academician V. M. Shishmarev]. M. P. Alekseev, G. V. Stepanov (Ed. in Ch.). Leningrad, LSU Publ., 1957, pp. 343–351.

Shubina L. V. Glagol’ye perifrasticheskie oboroty v sovremennom russkom yazyke [Verbal periphrastic turns in modern Russian]. Abstract of Cand. philol. sci. diss. Moscow, MSU Publ., 1973, 22 p.

Skvortsova O. N. Glagol’nye perifrazy v sovremennom frantsuzskom yazyke (k voprosu ob analiticheskikh glagol’nykh sochetaniyakh) [Verbal paraphrases in modern French (to the question of analytical verb combinations)]. In: Uchen. zapad. Mosk. gos. ped. inst. of foreign language named after M. Thorez [Uch. app. Moscow. state ped. in-t foreign lang. them. M. Torez]. L. I. Bazilevich (Ed. in Ch.). Moscow, 1956, vol. 9: Slovarnyy sostav i grammaticheskiy stroy yazyka [Vocabulary composition and grammatical structure of the language], pp. 228–238.

Vovchok D. P. “Ekonomicheskaya” funktsiya gazetnykh metaforicheskikh parafraz [“Economic” function of newspaper metaphorical paraphrases]. In: Issledovaniya po stilistike [Studies in style]. Perm’, 1974, iss. 4, pp. 225–234.