On Singulatives in Contemporary Ukrainian Language

Abstract.

ON SINGULATIVES IN CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN LANGUAGE

Milena Ivanović

Department of Slavonic Studies, Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade

Abstract

Background: Singulatives denote objects separated from a collection of uniform (homoge­nous) objects or from a structural mass. This separation materializes the collection, i.e., mass, which enables their quantification. Derivational singulatives such as горошина represent a specific trait of East Slavic, and among those also the Ukrainian language. The meaning of singulativity is, however, expressed not only at the derivational level but also at other levels of language, which has not yet been the subject of special study.

Purpose: The aim of our research is the description and analysis of the means for expressing singulative meaning at different levels of language.

Results: In the Ukrainian language, singulativity is expressed at the: 1. Derivational level, where the main means of expression is the suffix –ина, that is the compound suffix –инка (горох – горошина, цукор – цукринка); 2. Lexical level, through one of the meanings of a polysemic lexeme, whereby it is only manifested in context (камінь – великий камінь/транспорт каменю/будинок з каменю), 3. Lexical-syntactic level, through special lexeme-quantifiers such as головка, зерно, ягода, in constructions with an adjective or a noun (каквове зернятко, зернятко кави), and 4. Grammatical level, where it is limited to the genitive singular form of polysemic masculine nouns, in which the suffix -а(-я) is used in the realization of a singulative sememe, and -у(-ю) in the realization of collective meaning (взяти інструмента – набір інструменту).

Discussion: The central means for expressing singulativity are those at the derivational and lexical-syntactic level. In that, singulatives most often denote the smallest visible element of a collec­tion or mass which is naturally separated and which is equal in its composition, shape, size, etc. with any other element of that collection or mass (singulatives in the narrow sense: цибулина, головка цибулі); they can also denote any part of a collection, mass or complex object that is separated in every specific situation and which is equal in composition with the other parts, from which it can differ in shape, size etc. (singulatives-fragmentators: вуглина, шматок вугілля); finally, they can denote one of two equal and symmetrical parts of an object or one of two objects that usually go together (pair singulatives: штани – штанина, батьки – один у батьків) or they can only have a modifying, amplifying function (singulatives-amplifiers: краплина). The collective/individual rela­tionship is also characteristic of verbs: кліпати/кліпнути.

Keywords: singulativity, element, separation, materialization, collection, structural mass (matter), derivational level, lexical level, lexical-syntactic level, grammatical level

Vitae

Milena Ivanović is a Doctor of Philology, Associate Professor at the Department of Slavonic Studies, Faculty of Philology, University of Belgrade. Areas of research interests include functional linguistics, comparative linguistics, translation studies.

Correspondence: ivanovic.milena@gmail.com

Article.

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