Converb

Due to the fact that the main European languages ​​do not contain converbes as a category with their own morphology, a wide study of converb as a cross-linguistically valid category began only in the middle of the 20th century, largely thanks to Russian linguists who studied the languages ​​of the Caucasus.

Terminology

What is now called converbes was called differently in different scientific traditions. So, in English the terms gerund, adverbial participle were adopted (and are now being applied), in French - gérondif , in Russian the term coined by Meletiy Smotritsky is widely used - the participle . However, in traditional Russian studies, it remains the main one for designating converbes in the Russian language.

The problem of distinguishing between envelopes from other forms and parts of speech

M. Haspelmat rejects Meshchaninov ’s assumption ^[2] that the participle is an independent part of speech, since it does not meet the principle of autonomy, which would give him the right to be considered separate tokens . Thus, convert is considered a form of the verb.

The incompleteness of a convert

If we understand finiteness as the presence of a word's grammatical meanings of TAM - time , aspect and modality , there are some difficulties with the definition of converb as a non-finite form. Firstly, the necessity of applying the criterion of incompleteness is called into question. So, for example, V. Nedyalkov dispenses with the definition of gerimony without this concept and is content only with an indication of verb submission ^[3] . Secondly, the manifestation of signs of finiteness is continual and represents a scale. So, in the Swahili language, there are forms that do not have a specification for time and modality, but there is an indicator of agreement with the subject.

Converb forms in world languages ​​can be formed from verb stems by adding suffixes (for example, in Turkic), prefixes (in Burushaski ), vocalization patterns, clique (French en + participle , see fr: Gérondif ). In some Slavic languages, in particular in Russian, the verb is historically a “frozen” form of the sacrament (see germs ). Also, forms of converba can be replicated (for example, in Turkish, Lezgi).

Being syntactically subordinate to the main clause, converbs, as a rule, indicate a certain modification of the situation with respect to the situation described in the main clause.

Temporal value

Typically, participle clauses contain the meaning of simultaneity or precedence of the action described in the main clause.

Causal value

The causal value is apparently derived from the temporal, but can be traced independently: in the languages ​​of the world, in a sentence with an embedded convertible causal clause, there can be no other markers of this causality.

As follows from the definition, the envelope is subordinate to the main verb in the sentence, however, the degree of its independence can vary in the languages ​​of the world. There may also be different types of converb in the same language.

The formation of serial constructions

In some languages, a converb can participate in the formation of a serial construction , somewhat reminiscent of a construction with auxiliary verbs in Indo-European languages. The language may contain various types of converbes, some of which can only be used in serial constructions, some only on their own. As a rule, the construction is a convert plus a verb in finite form. At the same time, the conversion carries the main meaning of the clause. There can be many adverbs in a sentence, but a verb with finite exponents - one ^[4] .

Clause chaining

Series constructions with envelopes in some languages ​​(which do not gravitate to the use of compositional unions or do not have them at all) can express many situations in one sentence. As a rule, these are situations that occur consecutively in time. The union of converbial clauses into chains is as follows: (SUBJ (CONV ...)) (SUBJ (CONV ...)) ... FINITE_VERB

The Problem of Composition — Submission to the Converbial Clause

Polypredicative constructions with converbial clauses in different languages ​​can exhibit the properties of syntactic composition and submission. Different types of converbes can participate in subordinate and composed clauses. To determine whether a clause is subordinate or composed, special syntax tests are used.

The problem of monosubjectivity — multisubjectivity to the main clause verb

Martin Haspelmat distinguishes 3 types of converbes according to the coreference of the subject of participle to the subject of the main clause:

• single subject

Russian

• multi-subject
• Conversations, the subject of which may vary

Karachay-Balkarian Tamyr-lar-s Itzir-ip, Terek au-du. Root-PL-3 rot-CONV tree to fall-PST The roots rotted and the tree fell.

The ability of the participle to have a pronounced subject

Converts can be divided into three types based on the ability to have a pronounced subject:

• Converbs requiring the obligatory expression of the subject
• Conversations prohibiting compulsory expression of a subject
• envelopes that may or may not have a pronounced subject

Theoretically, any combination of these properties in the participle is possible, however, some correlations are observed. For example, if an envelope prohibits the expression of a subject, then most likely its subject is coreferent to the subject of the main clause.

Russian language

Turkic languages

• Haspelmath, Martin & König, Ekkehard (eds.). Converbs in cross-linguistic perspective: structure and meaning of adverbial verb forms - adverbial participles, gerunds. - Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter, 1995 .-- 564 p. - ISBN 3110143577 .
• Plungyan, V. A. Introduction to grammatical semantics: grammatical meanings and grammatical systems of world languages. - M .: RSUH, 2011.