Article

Name: Ways of expressing comparative inequality in the Ulch and other Tungusic languages

Authors: V. A. Gorbunova

Institute of Philology of the Siberian Branch RAS, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation

In the section Сравнительные конструкции в языках разных систем

Abstract:

This paper offers a comprehensive analysis of comparison markers in the Ulch language. The purpose is to introduce novel data with which to create a more complete picture of means of expressing different comparative relations within the inequality group. These data are to be used and serve to establish a perspective on the controversial issue of degrees of comparison in Ulch adjectives and their status in the system. A detailed overview of scientific literature on degrees of comparison as a grammatical category in the Tungusic languages is provided, with the data from the Ulch texts placed into a wider context. It is revealed that although numerous languages use analogous elements for denoting comparative and superlative meanings, the degree of regularity in their application differs. Comparative and superlative relations are marked by separate sets of markers in languages such as Even and Evenki, with minimal convergence between the two sets. In other languages, including Ulch, a substantial convergence between the two is evident. The differentiation indicates that the grammatical category of grade of comparison is not uniformly developed across languages, with Ulch exhibiting a less complete formation. The Ulch language demonstrates a strong correlation between context and the differentiation of sentences with varying semantic classifications, even those possessing identical structures. Rather than being conveyed through grammatical forms, the degrees of comparison are expressed on the level of text.

Keywords: Tungusic languages, the Ulch language, adjective, degrees of comparison, comparative forms, superlative forms, comparison

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