Translate this page:
Please select your language to translate the article


You can just close the window to don't translate
Library
Your profile

Back to contents

Philology: scientific researches
Reference:

Syntactic paradigm of the English active verb cut (based on The Economist magazine)

Abdullabekova Umsalimat Bagautdinovna

PhD in Philology

Docent, Dagestan State University of National Economy

367008, Russia, Republic of Dagestan, Makhachkala, Jamaludin Atayev str., 5

irma-uma@mail.ru
Other publications by this author
 

 

DOI:

10.7256/2454-0749.2022.8.37394

EDN:

XIZEFR

Received:

25-01-2022


Published:

03-09-2022


Abstract: The purpose of the study is to analyze the active verb cut in English. The article defines the models forming the synparadigma of the active verb cut, describes the semantic features of the verb, analyzes the verb cut from the point of view of its morphological categories. The author conducts a theoretical analysis of the concept of "syntactic paradigm", its differences from the morphological paradigm, and also describes various interpretations of the concept of actionality, which is important in the analysis of the syntactic paradigm of the active verb. There are a large number of points of view about what range of phenomena the concept of synparadigma covers and what is the composition of the categories significant for it. The article presents the theories of the synparadigma of D.Worth, P. Adamts. The author comes to the conclusion that the synparadigma of the active verb cut consists of 8 models: VN, VNprpN, LinkVed, Voneself, VO, VD, VNV, VNprpG. The highest frequency indicators are characterized by the VN model. An analysis of the active verb cut from the point of view of its characteristic species-specific, collateral categories and mood categories shows that the most commonly used form of the verb cut in the English-language media text is Present Indefinite and Present Perfect. Narration in the present tense provides a very strong presence effect, causes a feeling that events are happening here and now. The active verb is mainly used in the actual voice. Due to the lexical meaning, the verb cut is often used in the passive voice. The analysis of the verb along the line of the mood category revealed a large number of sentences in the indicative mood.


Keywords:

active verb, syntactic paradigm, the verb cut, actionality, viewmodern category, collateral category, mood category, English language, The Economist Magazine, English-language media text

This article is automatically translated.

The aim of the study is to analyze the active verb cut in English. The article defines the models forming the synparadigma of the active verb cut, describes the semantic features of the verb, analyzes the verb cut from the point of view of its morphological categories.Currently, linguists are of the opinion that all linguistic units are connected by two types of relations: syntagmatic and paradigmatic (or associative), therefore, the object of any linguistic (including syntactic) research should be linguistic units in their syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations [1, p. 12].

The concept of syntactic paradigm differs significantly from the concept of morphological paradigm. The morphological paradigm assumes a strict set of regular formal modifications of almost any word belonging to a particular grammatical class. The syntactic paradigm that determines the uniqueness of a particular functional-semantic category is formed on the basis of a group of words characterized by a common lexical meaning [2, p. 92].

The concept of syntactic paradigm was a logical continuation of the idea of the possibility and necessity to combine syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations, which was determined by the desire to describe language as a functional dynamic structure. There are a large number of points of view about which range of phenomena the concept of synparadigma covers and what is the composition of the categories significant for it. In linguistics, there is no precise definition of the synparadigma, it is not clear which structures are its members, which relations unite the units of the syntactic paradigm, where its boundaries are [3, p.20].

Linguists who define a synparadigma as a complex of correlating syntactic structures differing in at least one morpheme include both a sentence and a phrase in it. Some scientists argue that only sentence paradigms should be recognized as syntactic in nature, and "paradigms of phrases, obviously, would not be syntactic paradigms in the strict sense, but rather only combinations of morphological paradigms" [2, p. 93].

In linguistics, there are different definitions of the paradigm, allowing for a different degree of freedom of application of this term. The broadest understanding of the paradigm is based on F. de Saussure's interpretation of the paradigm as an associative series. At first, the sentence paradigm was presented as a hierarchically organized system of various modifications of the sentence. The first study devoted to the supply paradigm was the work of D. Worth. Another source of a broad understanding of the paradigm is the use of synonymy criteria. So D. Worth includes in the syntactic paradigm all syntactic constructions connected by synonymous or transformational relations, both predicative and non–predicative: book trade – book trade; students read a book - a book is read by students-students reading a book, etc. [4, pp. 98-100].

Another example of a broad understanding of the synparadigma is the theory proposed by P. Adamets. The Czech linguist understands the paradigm as a hierarchically organized system, which includes: the nuclear sentence, all its transformations, suggesting changes in the syntagmatic structure with the stability of the content side, all its modifications, suggesting a change in modal meaning, and all its variants, suggesting changes in its morphological categories (type, tense, mood, number) [5, pp. 77-78].D. Worth first formulated the position that there is a complete parallelism between paradigms at the morphological and syntactic levels.

He suggests distinguishing between two types of syntactic paradigms: inflectional (inflectional) and derivational (word-forming) synparadigms. In inflectional syntactic paradigms, transformations concern only the grammatical form of the components, the sentence structure does not change or changes partially (the girl draws, the girls draw).

The derivational paradigm forms a "nest" of structures connected by the commonality of the original sentence and the same lexical morphemes (students read books, books are read by students, students reading books, books read by students, students who read books) [3, pp. 22-23].

In addition, D. Worth divides synparadigms into simple and complex ones. Simple paradigms are characterized by the presence of a certain structural and semantic invariant at the sentence level. Simple paradigms are divided into linear and nonlinear. In simple linear paradigms, the syntactic structure does not change (I wrote - I write - I will write). In simple nonlinear paradigms, the syntactic form changes (he is a professor - he was a professor - he will be a professor). Complex paradigms are paradigms in which the syntactic model of a sentence is transformed (for example, a change in the voice). They have a hierarchical structure (The Director approved the order - The order was approved by the director; I remembered his face - I remembered his face; His words pleased me - I rejoiced at his words) [2, p. 95].

Since the article analyzes the synparadigma of the active verb cut, we will describe various interpretations of the concept of actionality. English verbs can be classified according to various characteristics, and one of them is the transfer of an action or state of an object. Accordingly, all verbs can be divided into active, or action verbs and stative, or state verbs.Active denote actions in the literal sense of the word or events and processes associated with certain changes.

Stative denote states that depend on the will of the subject or are independent of it, relationships, manifestations of qualities and properties. The grammatical categories of the verb correspond to the conceptual category of actionality or predicativity [6, p.385].

Actionality can be defined in various ways. In accordance with the classification of Z. Wendler's actional verbs are represented by four classes of predicates: states, activities, accomplishments, achievements [7, p. 108].

The main class of action predicates are verbs denoting activity or action, and action is a predicate in which the semantic primitive "do" is found in semantic reduction. Is it possible then to equate the concept of actionality with the meaning of the verb "do"? If this is not possible, then actionality is a terminological doublet of this semantic primitive, and if this is possible, then actionality should be recognized as an independent semantic quark (a semantic quark is such a small piece of meaning that it is not verbalized by any lexeme of this language, although it exists in it) [8, p. 19].

This article analyzes the synparadigma of the active verb cutThe synparadigma of the verb cut consists of 8 models (Table 1) :1.

VN

Verb – Noun

OPEC reaches a deal to cut production [9]. "OPEC has agreed to reduce production."

2.

VNprpN

Verb – Noun – preposition – NounOn July 31 the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, the first reduction since 2008 [10].

"On July 31, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter point, which was the first decline since 2008."

3.

LinkVed

Link word – Ved (participle)

Earlier this month, GM’s credit rating was cut again after Delphi[11]. "Earlier this month, GM's credit rating was downgraded again after Delphi...".

4.

Voneself

Verb – reflexive pronoun

Girls who cut themselves, girls with broken hearts … [12]. "Girls who cut themselves, girls with broken hearts...".

5.

VO

Verb – 0 (absence of any element after the verb)

Cut and run? [13]. "Cut and ran away"?

 

6.

VD

Verb – Adverb

… so that those with the biggest subsidies and highest tariffs would have to cut most [14]. "... so those with the biggest subsidies and the highest tariffs will have to cut the majority...".

7.

VNV

Verb – Noun – Verb

… they cut the capacity to match the fall in traffic last autumn [15]. "... they reduced the bandwidth to compensate for the drop in traffic last fall."

8.

VNprpG

Verb – Noun – preposition – Gerund

In an industry that serves fussy customers and operates on thin margins, how else do modern airlines cut costs without cutting corners? [16] "In an industry that serves fastidious customers and operates with a small margin, how else do modern airlines reduce costs without saving"?

Table 1. Synparadigma of the active verb cutThe highest frequency indicators characterize the VN model.

Next in frequency is the VNprpN model. The remaining models are represented by single examples.

The next stage is the analysis of the active verb cut from the point of view of its characteristic grammatical categories, categories of voice and mood. The initial thesis is the assumption that active and stative verbs differ not only in their semantics and the composition of synparadigms, but also in the morphological categories they implement.

The leading category in the system of species–time forms is the category of time - Present, Past and Future. Real time – the form of existence of matter – is in constant motion and continuously changing. Verb tenses in real speech can reflect real time, when the starting point is the actual moment of speech. The English species-modern system includes four paradigmatic categories: the main category (Indefinite), the long-term category (Continuous), the perfect (Perfect) and the long-term perfect (Perfect Continuous). An analysis of the verb cut along the line of the species-time category in The Economist magazine revealed a high frequency of use of the tense Present Indefinite and Present Perfect:As Americans cut the cord, Europeans sign up for more pay-TV [17].

"While Americans are cutting the cable, Europeans are subscribing to more pay TV."

How many American children have cut contact with their parents? [18]. "How many American children have cut off contact with their parents"?

Thus, the most commonly used modern form for active verbs in The Economist magazine is Present Indefinite and Present Perfect. Narration in the present tense provides a very strong effect of presence, causes a feeling that events are happening here and now, i.e. the unfolding of the situation described in the statement includes the moment of speech. As for the type-time category Perfect, it is a type-time form of the verb, which denotes an action or state that began in the past, the result of which is present in the existential present tense.

The next analyzed category is the category of collateral. Analysis of the verb cut line of the pledge category showed that it is mainly used in the actual pledge. There have been some cases of using the verb cut in the passive voice due to its lexical meaning:The papers show that in all countries other than France and Germany investment spending was cut … [19].

"The documents show that in all countries except France and Germany, investment spending has been reduced."

The next category analyzed is the mood category. The analysis of verbs along the line of the mood category revealed a large number of sentences in the indicative and imperative mood.

Thus, after analyzing the synparadigma of the verb c ut, we came to the following conclusions:

1) For the verb cut, the highest frequency indicators characterize the VN, VNprpN model.

2) The most commonly used modern form of the verb cut in the English–language media text is Present Indefinite and Present Perfect. Narration in the present tense provides a very strong presence effect, causes a feeling that events are happening here and now, i.e. the unfolding of the situation described in the statement includes the moment of speech.

3) The active verb cut is mainly used in the actual voice. We have noted some cases of using the verb cut in the passive voice due to its lexical meaning.

4) The analysis of the verb along the line of the mood category revealed a large number of sentences in the indicative mood.

References
1. Khlebnikova I.B. Essentials of English morphology. – M., 2001. – 126 p.
2. Skoblikova E.S. On some types of syntactic paradigms and their nature // Linguistics. Bulletin of SamGU. – 2012. – ¹. 2.1 (93). – P. 92-98.
3. Matveeva N.N. Structural syntax of the English language / ed. prof. L. L. Iofik. – L.: LSU, 1972. – 176 p.
4. Moskalskaya O.G. Problems of a systematic description of syntax. – M.: Higher school, 1981. – 175 p.
5. Adamets P.K. On the issue of syntactic paradigmatic // Linguistics in Czechoslovakia. – M.: Progress, 1978. – P. 77 – 78.
6. Linguistic Encyclopedic Dictionary / ed. V.N. Yartseva. – M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1990. – 685 p.
7. Tatevosov S.G. Actionality: typology and theory // Questions of linguistics.-2005. – ¹ 1. – P. 108 – 141.
8. Apresyan Yu. D. Actionality and static as hidden meanings // Secret meanings. Word. Text. Culture. – M.: Languages of Slavic culture, 2004. – P. 13 – 33.
9. OPEC reaches a deal to cut production // The Economist. Access mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2016/12/03/opec-reaches-a-deal-to-cut-production (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
10. The biggest winners from the Fed's rate cut // The Economist. Access mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2019/08/01/the-biggest-winners-from-the-feds-rate-cut (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
11. GM and Ford in need of a big overhaul // The Economist. Access mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/unknown/2005/10/20/gm-and-ford-in-need-of-a-big-overhaul (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
12. American fiction Size matters // The Economist. Access mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2015/05/28/size-matters (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
13. Cut and run? // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2006/10/26/cut-and-run (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
14. Drops on parched soil // The Economist. Access mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2003/07/03/drops-on-parched-soil (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
15. Flag carriers at half-mast // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/business/2002/02/28/flag-carriers-at-half-mast (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
16. How airlines cut costs // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2015/12/17/how-airlines-cut-costs (Accessed: 01/25/2022)
17. As Americans cut the cord, Europeans sign up for more pay-TV // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/business/2021/09/11/as-americans-cut-the-cord-europeans-sign-up-for-more-pay-tv (accessed: 25.01.2022)
18. How many American children have cut contact with their parents? // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/05/20/how-many-american-children-have-cut-contact-with-their-parents (Accessed: 25.01. 2022)
19. Government cuts have tended to land on the young // The Economist. Access Mode: URL: https://www.economist.com/free-exchange/2015/12/10/government-cuts-have-tended-to-land-on-the-young (Accessed: 01/25/2022)

Peer Review

Peer reviewers' evaluations remain confidential and are not disclosed to the public. Only external reviews, authorized for publication by the article's author(s), are made public. Typically, these final reviews are conducted after the manuscript's revision. Adhering to our double-blind review policy, the reviewer's identity is kept confidential.
The list of publisher reviewers can be found here.

The purpose of the reviewed article is to analyze the active verb cut in English. The reference point to the ontological connection of syntax and morphology is made correctly, because it is not advisable to limit oneself only to the reception of situations using the active verb cut. The author notes that "the article defines the models forming the synparadigma of the active verb cut, describes the semantic features of the verb, analyzes the verb cut from the point of view of its inherent morphological categories." The accuracy of the goal, the objectivity of the tasks set determines the strict logic of the question; the material has a pronounced practical orientation, it can be used in courses on the study of the morphology of the English language. The main/ basic theses are objective, accurate, verified: for example, "the concept of a syntactic paradigm differs significantly from the concept of a morphological paradigm. The morphological paradigm assumes a strict set of regular formal modifications of almost any word belonging to a particular grammatical class," or "linguists who define the synparadigma as a complex of correlating syntactic structures differing in at least one morpheme include both a sentence and a phrase in it. Some scientists argue that only sentence paradigms should be recognized as syntactic in nature, and "paradigms of phrases, obviously, would not be syntactic paradigms in the strict sense, but rather only combinations of morphological paradigms," or "the derivational paradigm forms a "nest" of structures connected by the commonality of the original sentence and the same lexical morphemes (students books are read, books are read by students, students reading books, books read by students, students who read books)", or "the leading category in the system of types of modern forms is the category of time – Present, Past and Future. Real time, the form of existence of matter, is in constant motion and is constantly changing. Verb tenses in real speech can reflect real time, when the starting point is the actual moment of speech," etc. The author pays due attention to the so-called theoretical works, references to which are also made in the essay (F. de Saussure, D. Worth, Z. Wendler ...). The material is independent, conceptual, there is a clear interest of the author in the subject of the "conversation". The relevance of the research is explained by the problem of "borrowing the paradigmatic and syntagmatic" principle of language development/formation, which is not fully developed in science. Therefore, this essay may be useful in further deciphering the problem. The systematization of observations is reduced by the author to a pictographic, tabular form, in my opinion, this is successful and correct. There are enough examples in the work, the illustrative background is active; moreover, different contexts allow you to see the difference in translation / use of the verb cut. The research style correlates with the scientific type of speech, no actual inaccuracies have been revealed. The conclusions of the text are formal, however, their marked nature does not prevent them from being perceived as true. The bibliographic list is designed in accordance with the requirements of the publication, no special editing is required. The purpose of the study has been achieved, the argumentation of the author's point of view takes place. I recommend the article "The syntactic paradigm of the English active verb cut (based on The Economist magazine)" for publication in the journal Philology: Scientific Research.