The particle da in answers to questions (in the context of lexicographical parameterization)

Particles are very difficult for foreign students who study Russian, especially modal particles that are still poorly researched both theoretically and methodologically. A dictionary of particles for foreigners could meet this need. The special purpose of the dictionary requires new parameters for particle description. The author has analyzed the representation of particle DA in different dictionaries and concluded that the existing description cannot meet the goals. This article focuses on the description of the modal particle DA as functioning in speech acts, in particular, in answering a question. The author found out that DA is not used in initiating phrases. The meaning of modal particles derives from its pragmatic essence, so the author characterizes them in terms of pragmatic linguistics. Based on J. R. Searle's classification of speech acts (SA) and later researchers of SA (N.A. Trofimova and so on), the author has worked out her own classification of SA, in which the particle DA functions: a) representatives; b) directives; c) commisives; g) in-terrogatives; d) expressives. The author also has mixed SA, such as expressive directives and expressive interrogatives as a peculiarity for particle DA. Material for the analysis was the dialogical speech from fiction. The author notes that the difference between the natural dialogue and the fiction one is irrelevant. The analysis showed that the particle functions naturally in response phrases because the most common meaning for DA is a reference to the presupposition: "I say P, because you asked". DA is always used at the beginning of SA and connects the previous phrase (the question) to the next one (the answer), in other words, the role of DA is always to serve as a connector in a dialogue. In answering questions DA functions mainly in representatives, and is used with particles UZH, VOT, VED', as well as in interrogatives, together with particles RAZVE, ZH. All these particles make speech acts more expressive. The author has differentiated the general meaning of reference into more specific meanings depending on the tone of the phrases in which DA functions, and got seven meanings: 1) perplexity/bewilderment DA; 2) DA of reflections; 3) DA of reference to what was mentioned; 4) DA of reference to the experience of interlocutors and their knowledge of situation; 5) DA of reference to some components of the situation noticed only by the speaker; 6) DA of strengthening of emotions, mostly negative ones; 7) categorical/confident DA. In the first two groups DA is uttered in a little bit stretched manner, while in others it is uttered briefly, it emphasizes the proposition, thus, slow response contrasts with fast response. In all cases DA is unstressed.

Keywords

Authors

References