Chapter 12. Morphopragmatics of rhyming and imitative co-compounds in Russian
-
Anna Alexandrova
Abstract
Coordinative compounding is a phenomenon at the crossroads between word-formation, syntax and discourse, adopted for encoding non-lexicalized concepts in a wide range of languages. We propose a morphopragmatic account of two specific coordinative compounding strategies in Russian, namely, rhyming and imitative co-compounds. They exhibit non-compositional semantics, inasmuch as they perform a generalizing/categorizing function, which, in turn, is tightly intertwined with a strong pragmatic evaluative component, involving irony and downgrading of the referent. Furthermore, different means of categorization tend to cluster in discourse, thus resulting in pervasive overcoding of the respective ad hoc concepts. Since categorization is a result of an online process of meaning negotiation between speakers, we have to do with low-frequency single instances of a frequent phenomenon.
Abstract
Coordinative compounding is a phenomenon at the crossroads between word-formation, syntax and discourse, adopted for encoding non-lexicalized concepts in a wide range of languages. We propose a morphopragmatic account of two specific coordinative compounding strategies in Russian, namely, rhyming and imitative co-compounds. They exhibit non-compositional semantics, inasmuch as they perform a generalizing/categorizing function, which, in turn, is tightly intertwined with a strong pragmatic evaluative component, involving irony and downgrading of the referent. Furthermore, different means of categorization tend to cluster in discourse, thus resulting in pervasive overcoding of the respective ad hoc concepts. Since categorization is a result of an online process of meaning negotiation between speakers, we have to do with low-frequency single instances of a frequent phenomenon.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Building categories in interaction 1
- Chapter 2. Ad hoc categorization in linguistic interaction 9
- Chapter 3. Categories at the interface of cognition and action 35
- Chapter 4. Category-building lists between grammar and interaction 73
- Chapter 5. Are new words predictable? 111
- Chapter 6. The Camel Humps prosodic pattern 155
- Chapter 7. Making the implicit explicit 187
- Chapter 8. Online text mapping 211
- Chapter 9. Exemplification in interaction 239
- Chapter 10. The on-line construction of meaning in Mandarin Chinese 271
- Chapter 11. Et cetera, eccetera, etc. The development of a general extender from Latin to Italian 295
- Chapter 12. Morphopragmatics of rhyming and imitative co-compounds in Russian 317
- Chapter 13. Encoding ad hoc categories in Georgian 355
- Chapter 14. French type-noun constructions based on genre 373
- Chapter 15. In a manner of speaking 415
- Chapter 16. Why it’s hard to construct ad hoc number concepts 439
- Index 463
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Building categories in interaction 1
- Chapter 2. Ad hoc categorization in linguistic interaction 9
- Chapter 3. Categories at the interface of cognition and action 35
- Chapter 4. Category-building lists between grammar and interaction 73
- Chapter 5. Are new words predictable? 111
- Chapter 6. The Camel Humps prosodic pattern 155
- Chapter 7. Making the implicit explicit 187
- Chapter 8. Online text mapping 211
- Chapter 9. Exemplification in interaction 239
- Chapter 10. The on-line construction of meaning in Mandarin Chinese 271
- Chapter 11. Et cetera, eccetera, etc. The development of a general extender from Latin to Italian 295
- Chapter 12. Morphopragmatics of rhyming and imitative co-compounds in Russian 317
- Chapter 13. Encoding ad hoc categories in Georgian 355
- Chapter 14. French type-noun constructions based on genre 373
- Chapter 15. In a manner of speaking 415
- Chapter 16. Why it’s hard to construct ad hoc number concepts 439
- Index 463
