The functional-semantic field of syntactical synonymy (on the material of modern French)

This paper is devoted to the studies of the functional-semantic field (FSF) of syntactical synonymy (SS) in the dichotomy language / discourse. The FSF is considered as a system of linguistic means of different levels with common invariant semantic characteristics that are combined on the basis of similarity and interaction of their semantic functions in the discourse. The author's aim is to study the virtual (systemic) process of transformation of complex signs -synonymic syntagmas and propositions with different key lexemes, and to determine the co(n)textually dominant synonymic structure. The used method of reconstruction allows to represent the FSF of SS in the form of a horizontal (syntagmatic) axis where the microfield of the syntactical pivotal structure (nuclear element) is situated, around which synonymic relations unfold; and a vertical (paradigmatic) axis which includes microfields of differently arranged virtual synonymic transforms of the pivotal structure (peripheral elements) actualized in certain co(n)texts in the form of syntactical options. Meanwhile, inside the macrofield different degrees of intersection of semantic significations of microfields of peripheral components and the microfield of the nuclear structure are observed. According to the nature of the key lexeme of each synonymic syntagm or proposition, the following categorical types of microfields are distinguished: processual or resultative (with the key lexeme of a predicate / gerund), substantive (with a nuclear component of a noun, a pronoun, a numeral), non-processual- or non-resultative-indicative (with a dominant lexeme of an adjective or a participle with an attributive function) and processual or resultative-indicative (with a key lexeme of an adverb or a participle with an adverbial function). Аs a result of the analysis of the field structure of SS in the dichotomy language / discourse, the dominant of each synonymic series of FSFs is identified. It is defined as a discourse innovation realized in some co(n)text in the form of a preferential construction (syntagm or utterance) with purposive, causative, irreal, temporal, spatial etc. semantic relations according to the intention of the addresser. The other members of synonymic series are potential dominants actualized in different communicative situations. In the functional-semantic macrofield of SS, the microfields of approximating, approaching, close, similar and adequate synonymic structures are distinguished. The latter is realized in the discourse under the principle of pertinence. Transformation and actualization of the pertinent syntactical construction depend on individual cognitive particularities and creative skills of the subject of speech. The field analysis of SS allows to make a conclusion that the preferential construction which is syntactically different from the pivotal structure approaches it semantically and pragmatically because all discourse innovations are of intentional-co(n)textual nature.

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