Mykhajlo Ginzburg

Gas Transportation Institute, Kharkiv

ТHE RULES OF СЯ-VERB USAGE IN PROFESSIONAL UKRAINIAN TEXTS

© Ginzburg M. D., 2016

In the article, the meanings/sub-meanings of Ukrainian ся-verbs are studied, their four basic meanings (reflexive, impersonal, passive and active) and nine sub-meanings of the reflexive meaning are separated and the non-controversial terminological system is proposed. It is shown that due to polysemy of ся-verbs, the same word form can express various meanings. Criteria enabling us to clearly distinguish natural Ukrainian constructions with such verbs from intruded constructions are suggested.

Keywords: Ukrainian language, professional text, ся-verb, lexical meaning, reflexive meaning, impersonal meaning, passive meaning, active meaning.

Significant difficulties for correct drafting and adequate understanding the professional Ukrainian texts are caused by verbs with affix -ся (hereinafter referred to as the ся-verb), which represent about a third (33%) of the total number of Ukrainian verbs. While such verbs are a common Slavic linguistic phenomenon, each language has its own rules of their usage. The features of ся-verb usage that distinguish the Ukrainian language from the neighboring Russian and Polish ones, has been already stressed by Olena Kurylo and Sergii Smerechynskii. The latter has selected four types of constructions with ся-verbs and has identified those of them that are inherent in the Ukrainian folk language, the most widespread in it and became its characteristic feature, and those of them that are not inherent in it. The usage of the ся-verbs is mentioned in the papers of Yurii Shevelоv Ivan Vychovanets, Kateryna Horodenska and other linguists. However, due to a different understanding of their norms, professional texts abound in constructions, which are not inherent in the Ukrainian language.

The purpose of this article is to classify the basic constructions with ся-verbs, to assess them in terms of the Ukrainian language norms and to give practical recommendation to authors of the Ukrainian professional texts, basing on the papers of the above mentioned and other linguists.

The article defines three main groups of ся-verbs: derivative from verbs without – ся, derivative from other parts of speech, verbs underivated in the modern language, as well as four methods of creating them (postfixal. prefixal-postfixal, suffixal-postfixal, prefixal-suffixal-postfixal ones) are studied. It is noted that owing to polysemy of ся-verb, the same word form conveys different meaning depending on the context. Therefore, the speaker shall clearly distinguish the specific inherent meanings of the Ukrainian ся-verb from intruded ones.

It is shown that basic and initial meaning of ся-verbs is reflexive one (which in the broadest sense is the meaning of the intransitive process centered, closed in a logical subject which simultaneously can be a logical object. Nine sub-meanings of the reflexive meaning are selected that convey different shades of reflexivity – from processes centered, closed in a logical subject to a wider general correlation with a logical subject, including its permanent and characteristic intransitive process abilities (properties). The names of these sub-meanings available in other papers are analyzed and the system Ukrainian terms are proposed for them. These terms are built in compliance with the model, which, on the one hand, through generic characteristic exemplifies the relations of these specific concepts with the generic concept "reverse meaning", and, on the other hand, clearly shows the difference between other subordinate concepts through delimiting characteristic of each specific ones. Five of these terms are generally accepted, one is selected from the options available in the literature, but three are proposed in view of the systematic requirement.

The basic possible constructions with ся-verbs in terms of the Ukrainian language norms are assessed and the following conclusions are made.

1. In Ukrainian professional texts ся-verbs should be used only for nominating intransitive processes that are processes which do not have a logical object separated from a logical subject. With the few exceptions they cannot be used for nominating transitive processes.

2 In subjective sentences the passive meaning is not inherent in Ukrainian ся-verbs in contrast to the Russian ones. They can be used only in the reflexive meaning which means a process that occurs on its own and that is independent of any external agent.

3. In subjectless sentences the active meaning is not inherent in Ukrainian ся-verbs in contrast to the Polish one. They can be used only in the impersonal meaning when we are talking about the state of nature or physical (mental) state of being, which does not arose as a result of his/her/its conscious will, consciously directed desire, that is self-sufficient, without regard to any agent.

1. Arnold Y. V. Stylystyka. Sovremennыi anhlyiskyi yazыk : Uchebnyk dlia vuzov / Y. V. Arnold ; Nauch. red. P. E. Bukharkyn. – 4-e yzd., yspr. y dop. – M. : Flynta ; Nauka, 2002. – 384 s. 2. Akhmanova O. S. Slovar lynhvystycheskykh termynov / O. S. Akhmanova. – 2-e yzd. stereotyp. – M. : Sovetskaia эntsyklopedyia, 1969. – 608 s. 3. Vykhovanets I. Diieslivno-imennykovyi hramatychnyi typ ukrainskoi movy / Ivan Vykhovanets // Ukrainska mova, 2012. – № 2. – S. 3–10. 3. Vykhovanets I. Diieslivno-imennykovyi hramatychnyi typ ukrainskoi movy / Ivan Vykhovanets // Ukrainska mova, 2012. – № 2. – S. 3–10. 4. Vykhovanets I. Teoretychna morfolohiia ukrainskoi movy : akadem. hramatyka ukr. movy / Ivan Vykhovanets, Kateryna Horodenska ; za red. Ivana Vykhovantsia. – K. : Univ. vyd-vo «Pulsary», 2004. – 400 s. 5. Havrylova V. Y. Aspektualnaia y zalohovaia kharakterystyka skazuemыkh medyalnыkh konstruktsyi / Valentyna Yvanovna Havrylova // Typolohyia vyda/aspekta: problemы, poysky, reshenyia : sbornyk nauchnыkh statei / otv. red. E. Ia. Tytarenko. – – Symferopol : DYAIPY, 2014. – S. 17–30. 6. Horpynych V. O. Morfolohiia ukrainskoi movy : Pidruchnyk / V. O. Horpynych. – K. : VTs «Akademiia», 2004. – 336 s. 7. Hramatyka ukrainskoi movy / I. R. Vykhovanets, K. H. Horodenska, A. P. Hryshchenko. – K. : Rad. shkola, 1982. – 209 s. 8. Hrammatyka russkoho yazыka. T. 1 : Fonetyka y morfolohyia / V. V. Vynohradov, E. S. Ystryna, S. H. Barkhudarov. – M. : Yzd-vo AN SSSR, 1960. – 720 s. 9. Hrinchenko B. Try pytannia nashoho pravopysu Z dodatkamy profesora A.E. Krymskoho / B. Hrinchenko. – Vidbytok z «Ridnoho kraiu» – K. : Elektrychna drukarnia K. N. Mylevskoho i Ko, 1908. – 40 s. 10. Zherebylo T. V. Slovar lynhvystycheskykh termynov / Zherebylo Tatiana Vasylevna. – 5-e yzd., yspr. y dop. – Nazran : OOO «Pylyhrym», 2010. – 486 s. 11. Zhovtorbiukh M. A. Kurs suchasnoi ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy : Ch. I / M. A. Zhovtorbiukh, B. M. Kulyk. – K. : Vyshcha shkola, 1972. – 404 s. 12. Istorychna typolohiia slov’ianskykh mov : Ch. 2 / Za red. O. B. Tkachenka. – K. : Dovira, 2008. – 264 s. 13. Karavanskyi S. Rosiisko-ukrainskyi slovnyk skladnoi leksyky / Sviatoslav Karavanskyi. – 3-tie vyd., dop. i vypr. – L. : BaK, 2016. – 608 s. 14. Kozlenko I. Infinityv i stan / Iryna Kozlenko // Ukrainske movoznavstvo : mizhvidomchyi naukovyi zbirnyk / Kyiv. nats. un-t im. Tarasa Shevchenka. – K. : VPTs «Kyivskyi universytet», 2011. – Vyp. 41. – S. 55–67. 15. Krotevych Ie. V. Slovnyk linhvistychnykh terminiv / Ie. V. Krotevych, N. S. Rodzevych ; Za zah. red. Ie. V. Krotevycha. – K. : Vyd-vo AN URSR, 1957. – 236 s. 16. Krыmskii A. Ukraynskaia hrammatyka dlia uchenykovъ vыsshykhъ klassovъ hymnazii y semynarii Prydnѣprovia / A. Krыmskii – T. I, vыp. 1-i, – M. : Typohrafiia Viach. Al. Hatsukъ, 1907. – 545 s. 17. Kulyk B. M. Kurs suchasnoi ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy / B. M. Kulyk. – K. : Rad. shk., 1948. – 332 s. 18. Kurylo O. Pro ukrainski bezpidmetovi konstruktsii z prysudkovymy diiepryslivnykamy na -no -to / O. Kurylo // Zbirnyk sektsii hramatyky ukrainskoi movy NDI movoznavstva pry VUAN ; red. O. Kurylo. – Kn. 1. – K. : b. v., 1930. – 236 s. 19. Kurylo O. Uvahy do suchasnoi ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy / Olena Kurylo. – K. : Vyd-vo Solomii Pavlychko «Osnovy», 2004. – 303 s. (peredruk vydannia 1925 r.). 20. Kurs suchasnoi ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy / Za red. L. A. Bulakhovskoho – u 2-kh t. – K. : Rad. shk., 1951. – T. 1. – 520 s. ; T. 2. – 408 s. 21. Lavrinets O. Pasyvni konstruktsii z diieslovamy na ‑sia v suchasnii ukrainskii movi: synonimiia ta paralelizm funktsionuvannia / Olena Lavrinets // Ukrainska mova, 2014. – № 1. – S. 61–75. 22. Mezhov O. H. Sub’iektni syntaksemy u strukturi prostoho rechennia : avtoref. dys. … kand. filol. nauk : 10.02.01 : «Ukr. mova» / Mezhov Oleksandr Hryhorovych ; NAN Ukrainy, Instytut ukrainskoi movy. – K., 1998. – 19 s. 23. Mezhova O. V. Vnutrishnovidminkova sub’iektna transpozytsiia v suchasnii ukrainskii movi / O. V. Mezhova // Filolohichni studii : Naukovyi visnyk Kryvorizkoho nats. un-tu. – Kryvyi Rih, 2013. – Vyp. 9. – S. 291–288. 24. Mykhailyk R. P. Semantyko-hramatychna struktura diiesliv na ‑sia v suchasnii ukrainskii movi / Mykhailyk Roksolana Pavlivna : avtoref. dys. ... kand. fil. nauk : spets. 10.02.01 «Ukr. mova» / NAN Ukrainy. Instytut ukrainskoi movy. – K., 1995. – 16 s. 25. Nakonechnyi M. Ukrainska mova : prohrama-konspekt z dodatkom pro novyi pravopys ukrainskyi / M. Nakonechnyi. – Kh. : Rukh, [1928]. – 240 s. 26. Oleshyk L. Strukturni osoblyvosti ta prahmatychno-funktsionalni parametry refleksyvnoho pokaznyka v ukrainskii, anhliiskii ta ispanskii movakh / Lidiia Oleshyk // Visnyk Lviv. un-tu. Seriia inozemni movy. – L. : Vydavnychyi tsentr LNU im. Ivana Franka, 2009. – Vyp. 16. – S. 239–249. 27. Potebnia A. A. Yz zapysok po russkoi hrammatyke. T. 3. Ob yzmenenyy znachenyia y zamenakh sushchestvytelnoho / A. A. Potebnia. – M. : Prosveshchenye, 1968. – XIV, 551 s. 28. Rozental D. Э. Slovar-spravochnyk lynhvystycheskykh termynov / D. Э. Rozental, M. A. Telenkova. – 3-e yzd., yspr. y dop. – M. : Prosveshchenye, 1985. – 399 s. 29. Rozental D. Э. Spravochnyk po pravopysanyiu y lyteraturnoi pravke : Dlia rabotnykov pechaty / D. Э. Rozental. – 4-e yzd., yspr. y dop. – M. : Knyha, 1985. – 336 s. 30. Rusanivskyi V. M. Porivnialno-typolohichna kharakterystyka diieslivnoho stanu v suchasnykh slov’ianskykh literaturnykh movakh : dopovidi rad. delehatsii na VI Mizhnar. z’izdi slavistiv (Praha, serpen 1968 r.) / V. M. Rusanivskyi. – K. : Nauk. dumka, 1968. – 37 s. 31. Russkaia hrammatyka. T. 1: Fonetyka. Fonolohyia. Udarenye. Yntonatsyia. Slovoobrazovanye. Morfolohyia / N. Iu. Shvedova (hl. red.). – M. : Nauka, 1980. – 784 s. 32. Simovych V. Na temy movy / dr. Vasyl Simovych. – Praha ; Berlyn : Vyd-vo «Nova Ukraina», 1924. – 48 s. 33. Slovnyk ukrainskoi movy : v 11-ty t. / Red. kol. I. K. Bilodid ta in. – K. : Nauk. dumka, 1970–1980. – T. 1–11. 34. Smerechynskyi S. Narysy z ukrainskoi syntaksy u zv’iazku z frazeolohiieiu ta stylistykoiu. – Kh., 1932. / Serhii Smerechynskyi; Fotoperedruk z pisliaslovom O. Horbacha. – Miunkhen: Ukrainskyi vilnyi universytet, 1990. – 263 s. 35. Suchasna ukrainska literaturna mova / A. P. Hryshchenko, L. I. Matsko, M. Ia. Pliushch, N. I. Totska, I. M. Uzdyhan ; Za red. A. P. Hryshchenka. – Vyd. 3-tie, dop. – K. : Vyshcha shkola, 2002. – 439 s. 36. Suchasna ukrainska mova : Dovidnyk / L. Iu. Shevchenko, V. V. Rizun, Iu. V. Lysenko ; Za red. O. D. Ponomareva. – K. : Lybid, 1996. – 320 s. 37. Tykhomyrova T. S. Kurs polskoho yazыka : Ucheb. dlia vuzov / T. S. Tykhomyrova. – M. : Vыssh. shk., 1988. – 279 s. 38. Ukrainska mova. Entsyklopediia / Redkol. : V. M. Rusanivskyi, O. O. Taranenko (spivholova), M. P. Ziabliuk ta in. – 2-he vyd., vypr. i dop. – K. : Ukr. entsykl., 2004. – 824 s. 39. Shevelov (Sherekh) Iu. Narys suchasnoi ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy / Iu. Sherekh. – Miunkhen, 1951. – 404 s. 40. Shevelov Iu. Vnesok Halychyny u formuvannia ukrainskoi literaturnoi movy / Yurii Shevelov. – K. : Vyd. dim «KM Akademiia», 2003. – 160 s. 41. Yushchuk I. P. Ukrainska mova / I. P. Iushchuk. – K. : Lybid, 2003. – 640 s.