Linking words on the structural basis esli ne

The article is dedicated to the memory of V.A. Beloshapkova, a professor of Moscow University, a well-known syntaxist, the author of academic grammars, textbooks on the modern Russian language for universities. The problems of syntactic means of linking words occupied a large place in the circle of her research interests. V.A. Beloshapkova developed a system for analyzing linking words. The linking words on the basis of the combination esli ne [if not] are selected for analysis. There are three linking words of this kind: esli ne as such and two of its complicated versions: esli ne .. . to [if not . . . then], esli ne skazat' [if not to say]. Examples of their use in media speech are given. An oveview of the interpretations of the linking words data in academic grammars and works of syntaxists has been made since the 1960s. They were qualified as compositional conjunctions with the semantics of conventionality, gradation, comparability, adversity, reimbursement. It is noted that the linking words are often accompanied by combinations khotya by, vse-taki, vse zhe, po men 'shey mere, po krayney mere, uzh vo vsyakom sluchae, uzh tochno. It is indicated that the linking words are used in both simple and complex sentences. The author asserts that the purpose of the linking words is to be the markers of the meta-sense of speaking, the necessity of which is caused by the introduction of two nominations of one reality into the sentence. One of them turns out to be hyperbolic and therefore unacceptable, and the other is less strong and therefore preferable. This can be shown in the example: This report contains a lot of data that should be recognized if not sensational, then very, very impressive (B. Mezhuyev, Izvestiya, 30.10.2014): characterizing the data given in the report, the author of this sentence uses two expressions - sensational and very, very impressive. However, the former seems exaggerated, hyperbolic to the author, so he introduces a second nomination, reducing the degree of positive evaluation; the former retains in the sentence as possible, but not preferable. Thus, the means under consideration turn out to be in the circle of hyperbole markers, which soften its effects or serve as excuses for an involuntary recourse to hyperbole: pozha-luy, bukval 'no, edva li, pryamo, prosto, etc. The article provides a semantic and constructive description of the three analyzed linking words. As a result, their hierarchy is established in terms of implicitness / explicitness, the order of the possible and preferred nomination; the idiomatic nature of the linking words. The theoretical conclusion of this article concerns the semantics of the linking words, which is usually qualified as logical, but in this case the linking words express the meta-sense of unreasoning, being included in the range of expression of subjective meanings expressing the author's intentions and other aspects of his/her speech behavior.

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