MEDIATION AND DECONSTRUCTION OF BINARY HIERARCHY IN ARAVIND ADIGA’S THE WHITE TIGER

Author(s): Marija Knežević / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2015

The paper discusses binary opposition, one of the most explored concepts in post-colonial criticism, as used in The White Tiger (2008) – Aravind Adiga’s debut novel placed, due to its topic as well as the issues it raises, in the tradition of post-colonial literature. Since the binary theory was first used by the movement of structuralism, and later developed by the famous post-structuralist and post-colonial theorist Jacques Derrida, the aim of this paper will be to implement the structuralist concept of binary opposites, as well as Derida’s binary theory, on the novel. The paper explores the mediation as the means of overcoming the polarities, indicated by the structuralist theorist Claude Lévi-Strauss, as well as the deconstruction of the hierarchy created by the system of opposites, suggested by Derrida’s theory. In addition to analyzing the primary binary concept, it also explores the parallel secondary analogies which serve to reinforce and further contrast the polarities, as well as their role in the novel. The findings will reveal that the exploration of binary oppositions in literature can benefit in deciphering messages which may sometimes appear too abstract to apprehend: since contexts usually generate their own semantic systems, we can tremendously benefit from interpreting the system of oppositions and demystifying their semantic value.

Second argument realization with verbal nouns in Macedonian

an example of grammatical variability

Author(s): Liljana Mitkovska / Language(s): English Issue: 2-3/2015

This paper discusses the variability of realization of the direct argument of nominalized predications in Macedonian constructions. As it is common in other languages, the possessive na-construction is utilized for accommodation of both subjective and objective case in the noun phrase built by the verbal noun in -nje. There is a possibility, however, to add the objective NP directly to the verbal noun if it is not marked for definiteness. The constructions with and without the preposition are seemingly freely interchangeable and there is no consensus among native speakers regarding the choice between the two patterns. This non-categorical or probabilistic variation is the focus of the present paper. On the basis of attested examples from written sources and a questionnaire survey we examine the factors of referentiality and structural complexity of the objective NP, which may be responsible for the preference of one or the other pattern. The usage reveals that the choice is not optional, but may be governed by some probabilistic rules that need to be further examined by application of more rigorous statistical methods.

Rybarczyk, Magdalena. 2015. Demonstratives and possessives with attitude: An intersubjectively-oriented empirical study

Author(s): Lidija Šaravanja / Language(s): English Issue: 2-3/2015

Rybarczyk, Magdalena. 2015. Demonstratives and possessives with attitude: An intersubjectively-oriented empirical study.

DERIVATIONAL PARADIGMS WITHIN SELECTED CONCEPTUAL FIELDS – CONTRASTIVE RESEARCH

Author(s): Vesna Antoniová,Pavol Štekauer / Language(s): Serbian Issue: 2/2015

The paper discusses the nature of derivational paradigms and accounts of them as a combination of two parameters that establish a paradigmatic network. I tis demonstrated that there are no substantial differences between inflectional and derivational paradigms and that the only major difference concerns the saturation value, i.e., the degree of structural completeness of a paradigmatic network. It is emphasized that actual words are only one aspect of derivational paradigmaticity, theother one being an enormous potential capacity of the derivational system. A contrastive empirical research analyses three selected cognitive fields in three different languages in order to demonstrate the possibility the advantage of the parameter of saturatiuon value for contrastive examination of derivational systems of various languages.

A LINGUISTIC CONSTRUCT INFORMS MUSICOLOGY: RANKING METRICAL CONSTRAINTS IN MUSIC PERCEPTION

Author(s): Mihailo Antović / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2015

The construct of perceptual constraints has become increasingly important in cognitive science in recent years, including the research at the intersection of linguistics and musicology. The present paper provides the results of an empirical study into the ordering of metrical preference rules/constraints from the group MPR5, as proposed in "A Generative Theory of Tonal Music" (GTTM, Lerdahl & Jackendoff, 1983). The theory predicts a preference for inferring strong beats on musical tones which exhibit a relatively prominent pitch change, dynamic, long slur, long pattern of articulation, long duration of a pitch in the relevant levels of a time-span reduction, and prominent harmony in the relevant level of a time-span reduction. A hundred and twenty randomly selected undergraduate students (30 musicians and 90 nonmusicians) were played twelve metrical sequences based on the examples of the rule MPR5 from GTTM, of which one half were constructed so as to comply with the participants' expectancies and another half so as to contradict them. The participants were prompted to press a button when certain they had heard a stressed beat. The distributions of responses suggest that the six constraints can be ranked into three larger groups, as follows: physical stress (dynamic, harmony), melodic stress (pitch, slur, length), ornamental stress (articulation). Musicians achieved better results than nonmusicians, and the response latencies considerably rose in the stimuli contradicting expectancies, but the internal constraint rankings remained relatively stable irrespective of the two factors (musical training and inception of stimuli on the targeted beat). Given such results, metrical segmentation is hypothesized to be the principal contribution of GTTM which has stood the test of time.

Zu adjektivischen Wortgruppenderivaten "Zusammenbildungen" mit substantivischem Kern und Suffix -ig (mal -iχ ) im Siebenbürgisch-Sächsischen

Author(s): Sigrid Haldenwang / Language(s): German Issue: 58/2015

The linguistic peculiarities of the Transylvanian-Saxon tongue identifies it as a Midwestern German, more specifically a Mid Franconian dialect, which has acquired mid-eastern and upper German elements during its development in Transylvania. This dialect shows many similarities with the dialects spoken in the area between Cologne and Trier, as well as in Luxembourg.The type of word formation is treated and defined differently in the linguistic literature of Standard German. This can be proven through the use of various linguistic theories. Based on the idiomatic material, adjectival formation can be defined as “an explicitly adjectival suffix derivative where the first immediate constituent (IC) is a word group, and the second constituent is the suffix [for example: “finehearted” (goodhearted) < fine heart; “lefthanded” < left hands; five-fathomed” (five fathoms length) < five fathom; “onepelt” (cut from one single pelt) < one pelt].The result of the adjectival formation is a descriptive and linguistically economical word building construction.

Adam Dziadek, Projekt krytyki somatycznej, Warszawa: IBL 2014

Author(s): Zuzanna Guty / Language(s): Polish Issue: 01/2015

L’attitude énonciative d’opposition introduite par mais – l’approche contrastive français-polonais

Author(s): Anna Dutka-Mańkowska / Language(s): French Issue: 05/2015

The French connective mais at the beginning of a reply in a dialogue and its Polish counterpart are regarded as indicating enunciative attitude (attitude énonciative, Anscombre 2009). Analysis shows that in Polish texts an opposed position is frequently strengthened by the addition of several words and the connective ale/ależ at the beginning of a reply is then facultative, or it can be weaker and then other markers (lecz, co tam, co ty, etc.) are decisive for understanding the text. In translating into French, translators often add the word mais at the beginning of a reply. Contrastive analysis showed that the use of mais is much more systematic and general than the Polish words which give varying degrees of complexity at the semantic-pragmatic level.

As divergências e as convergências entre o sistema temporal polaco e português

Author(s): Barbara Hlibowicka-Węglarz / Language(s): Portuguese Issue: 05/2015

The aim of this study is to compare the temporal system of the Polish and Portuguese language that is to indicate common and distinguishing features between two above mentioned systems. Therefore firstly it shall be considered how both systems are functioning, secondly the most fundamental criteria of such comparison shall be established. Finally an analysis of temporal values of the particular verbal forms shall be conducted. Furthermore the purpose of this study is to compare means of expression of the temporal category in Polish with means of expression of the temporal category in Portuguese. As a result the study indicated that the temporal category together with category of aspect form interconnected grammatical categories which meet on the functional basis. While in Portuguese time and aspect are expressed by morphemes cumulating both functions, Polish has different means of expression of each of these categories. The study enabled to formulate conclusions regarding similarities and differences between both systems as well as to indicate specific features which emphasize uniqueness of each analyzed system.

Sobre la tipología semántica de los predicados verbales

Author(s): Tomasz Niestorowicz / Language(s): Spanish Issue: 05/2015

The main aim of this article is to describe the classical typology of aspectual classes proposed by Vendler (1967). For that reason, the article is devoted to a general study of this classification. The author also reflects on the compositional nature of aspect.

Two Typologies of AP Predicates in Polish – a Comparison

Author(s): Anna Bondaruk / Language(s): English Issue: 06/2015

The paper examines two typologies of predicates found in the literature, put forward for languages other than Polish, mostly English, Spanish, Russian, and French. The first typology goes back to Milsark (1974) and Carlson (1977), who argue for dividing predicates into individual level and stage level. The former roughly correspond to stable properties, the latter to the transient ones. The distinction has its manifestations in syntax and semantics. The paper shows that the dichotomy is also present in the case of Polish AP predicates. The other typology, that of Roy (2013), posits the distinction between characterizing and situation-descriptive adjectival predicates. The paper demonstrates that this distinction is valid for Polish, as well. The two typologies have been compared with each other. It has been argued that the IL/SL dichotomy allows us to classify a given adjectival predicate as a member of one class or the other, whereas in Roy’s (2013) typology a particular adjective can be either characterizing or situation-descriptive, depending on the context. EAs constitute a class of adjectival predicates that escapes a uniform classification in both typologies under scrutiny.

Syntactic Patterns of English and Polish Fixed Phrases with Proper Names

Author(s): Anna Dąbrowska / Language(s): English Issue: 06/2015

This paper focuses on English and Polish fixed phrases involving personal and place names. First, the definition of a name and the distinction between proper and common nouns or proprial lemmas and proper names are provided, following a short overview of theories that constitute the basis for any discussion related to proper names. Next, subcategories and sources of names, together with their linguistic characteristics are presented, followed by the working definition of phraseological fixed units. Afterwards, the study is undertaken of personal and place names in fixed phraseological units, surveying a broad list of English and Polish fixed entities that are classified according to five syntactic patterns: phrases with (1) NPs, (2) VPs, (3) PPs, (4) clauses, and (5) similes. Additionally, the biblical, literary, classical, cultural and historical origins of these expressions are pointed out. Finally, in the light of the examined data, the predominance of personal over place names is noticeable, while the items with NPs constitute the vast majority of the phraseological units. Investigating corpus and dictionary evidence, fixed elements typical either of English or only of Polish, or those common to both English and Polish are listed. The most frequent are the units from biblical and mythological sources, while the least popular are the expressions with historical and literary background, as these aspects are unique for each country. With regard to the meaning of the fixed phrases containing proper personal and place names, the data reveal that the units do convey information, recall connotations that arose some time ago in relation to the biblical, mythological, literary, cultural, and historical background, and are still relevant today.

Jakim językiem mówią głusi? – język migowy i polszczyzna w wypowiedziach głuchych

Author(s): Karolina Ruta,Marta Wrześniewska-Pietrzak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 06/2015

The article presents the problem of different ways of communication between hearing impaired people in Poland. The aim of the text is to discuss not only the ways of communication, but also to present how hearing impaired people perceive and evaluate Polish Sign Language (PJM), Polish (spoken and written) language and Polish signed language (SJM). The analyzed material comes from the website www.deaf.pl, newspaper “The World of Silence” and other texts written by hearing impaired people. The conveyed analysis have highlighted that deaf people are strictly confirmed that PJM is a valuable way of communication. What is more, they claim that PJM is also the symbol of being a deaf person, that is a part of deaf community and culture. They also perceive Polish language and SJM (the subcode of Polish language) as a foreign language, difficult to learn and the language that is imposed by hearing majority. Such negative valuation of SJM and Polish language influence on the perception of bicultural and bilingual education among deaf people in Poland.

Peuples constitutifs et identités linguistiques en Bosnie-Herzégovine

Author(s): Samir Bajrić / Language(s): French Issue: 08/2015

This paper revives the need to rethink the language concepts (national, official and other), nation and state constitution by subjecting them to the study of (intractable) features created by the Bosnian cohabitation. The names imposed by the Dayton Agreement (1995) and referring to political entities as well as peoples and minorities concerned, such as Bosniak-Croat Federation / Muslim-Croat, Republika Srpska (Serb political entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina), Croats / Bosnian Croats, Serbs / Bosnian Serbs, Bosnians, Bosniaks / Muslims, Bosnian-Muslims, etc., create a broad area where intermingle and overlap language demands and multiethnic / multireligious realities.

Metodika nastave pravopisa i pravogovora

Author(s): Izet Beširović,Sead Nazibegović / Language(s): Bosnian,Croatian Issue: 11/2014

U metodici nastave jezika i književnosti preporučuje se da se nastava pravopisa i pravogovora u principu odvija simultano sa nastavom gramatike. Poseban akcenat u metodici nastave pravopisa (ortografije) i pravogovora (ortoepije) treba staviti na tzv. pravopisne vježbe (prepisivanja, diktati, ispravljanja). Diktati su posebno značajni za nastavu pravopisa i pravogovora, a isto tako, koriste se i u nastavi gramatike, stilistike, leksikologije, semantike itd. Za diktat se uvijek treba tražiti funkcionalan tekst, a ukoliko to nije moguće, onda treba kreirati tekst koji treba da djeluje kao logički povezana cjelina. Može se slobodno kazati da u metodici nastave maternjeg jezika postoji i “metodika diktata” kao posebna matodička oblast. Sve postojeće klasifikacije diktata u bivšoj južnoslovenskoj metodici pravopisa proizašle iz sovjetske diktatske škole, a bosanska škola metodike diktata u nastavi maternjeg jezika gotovo da i ne postoji.

Präpositionalphrasen als ergänzungen

Author(s): Sanja Tunjić / Language(s): German Issue: 9/2012

Целевые отношения, передающиеся в русском языке предложными конструкциями - их адекватное выражение в чешском языке

Author(s): Aleš Brandner / Language(s): Russian Issue: 1/2015

Purpose relations in Russian and Czech are primarily expressed in sentences by means of subordinate clauses of purpose. In the simple sentence, they are indicated by adverbial expressions which serve as adverbials of purpose. Adverbials of purpose both in Russian and in Czech are expressed via indirect cases; following verbs of motion also by means of infinitive. In Russian it can occasionally be eligible to insert purpose adverbials into transgressive structures. The article discusses purpose relationships in the simple sentence in Russian expressed by nominal constructions with primary and secondary prepositions. The situation in Russian is contrasted with the situation in Czech.

INVESTIGATION OF ANIMATED FILM BLENDS IN ENGLISH DISCOURSE

Author(s): Admir Gorčević,Samina Dazdarević,Amela Lukač-Zoranić / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2016

The current paper focuses on an empirical study of one of the most prominent morphological word-formation processes in the English language in animated films, the process of lexical blending. The aims of the study are to explore lexical blends in the English of animated films, and to determine to what extent, if at all, they are used in different corpora. The change within the language is the result of morphological rule-governed creativity, and thus it lends itself to both quantitative and qualitative linguistic analyses. The research presents the identification of blends in animated films and their morpho-semantic analysis. The linguistic items identified in animated films are cross-checked against two sources - the technology-based language tool (COCA) and selected dictionaries of contemporary English. The study reveals that the language of animated films contains lexical blends, and that they are used in corpora to some degree.

The role of phraseological units with proper names in linguistic worldview

Author(s): Nurizat Abilmazhinova / Language(s): English Issue: 08/2014

The article investigates the interrelation between culture and phraseological units including proper names on the base of the English, Russian and Kazakh languages. The topicality of the research article is determined by: 1) continued interest in learning various relations of language, thinking and culture as well as representation mechanisms of stereotypes in language; 2) integration tendencies of research paradigms in linguistics, in particular systematic and functional approaches; 3) constant tendency to order the system of expressive means in language; 4) trinity of Three Language Policy (the Kazakh, Russian and English languages) 5) multilingualism and its effect on people’s linguistic worldview. The article states several definitions of the term ‘stereotype’ in modern linguistics thus emphasizing its significance and multiversity. To indicate the reflection of history and culture in language the etymology of a number of set phrases is given as well. Methodological base of the research paper is formed by the system of fundamental representations of general interrelation of language and thinking, language and person, language and culture and their interdependence. The basic methods of the research paper are methods of linguistic observation and description which intend to interpret peculiarities of the investigated language units, an explanatory method and component-semantic analysis. It should be noted that the analysis has been conducted in an integrated way by using the methods appropriate to the given aim and tasks on each stage of the work. General scientific base of the paper is formed by principles of anthropocentrism, systematization and determinism.

Anny Wierzbickiej koncepcja naturalnego metajęzyka semantycznego

Author(s): Weronika Wojtanowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2016

The aim of the paper is to present and analyze the conception of natural semantic metalanguage of Anna Wierzbicka. The first part focuses on the inspirations and the foundations of the theory. It outlines the philosophical foundations of the conception of NSM and presents the main trends within linguistics that have had an impact on Wierzbicka’s theory. The second part discusses the theoretical frames of the conception. The paper also presents the explications of selected concepts, in order to show practical use of the natural semantic metalanguage and to analyze the key issues related to the explications. The last part discusses the influence of Wierzbicka on further research in the field of humanities. It presents the most important issues related to the reception of this theory. On the one hand, it mentions the most important objections that have been put forward, or that can be made against this concept. On the other hand, it shows the impact of Wierzbicka’s research on Polish and foreign linguistics and it outlines further research perspectives.