Derivational and lexical intensifiers in modern Russian: active processes

Abstract

The article considers ways of representing the functional-semantic category of intensity at the lexical and word-formation levels of the language. At the former, linguistic units are expressed by a separate word (adverb, adjective), fixed prepositional case form, phraseological unit. At the word-formation level, the study describes derivational means and new lexemes formed with these means, as well as word-formation processes and patterns. The research is relevant as it concentrates attention on the dynamic processes determining the development of the category of intensity in the twenty-first century language. The article aims to show the dynamics of derivational and lexical intensifiers in modern media and literary texts. The materials of the study are texts obtained from print and electronic media, television and radio broadcasts, as well as twenty-first century fiction. Within the level approach framework, the paper employs derivational and lexical-semantic analysis. The functional-pragmatic aspect of the study determined the use of contextual and pragma-stylistic analysis. As a result, the study has characterised the productive derivational means (affixes and affixoids) and word-building processes (reduplication) of expressing intensity, as well as new words formed with their help. Moreover, the research has shown the connection between the categories of intensity and evaluativity in derivational processes. In addition, the research has identified factors (the semantic-stylistic features of affixes and derivational bases, the context) determining the expressive-evaluative nature of new formations. The paper reveals the areas for the development of lexical intensifiers: 1) expansion of syntagmatic possibilities and the associated emergence in speech of new phrases (such word combinations violate lexicographically well-established traditions); 2) addition of new units to the class as a result of intralinguistic borrowing and semantic derivation. New intensifiers with vivid expressiveness, imagery, and evaluativity serve as a tool to make speech more expressive.