러시아어 존재문 연구 - 의미-화용적 접근

Abstract

Existential Construction(EC), as non-referring expression, is regarded as a typical linguistic phenomenon of thetic judgement. Its theticity is supported by syntagmatic partitivity (i.e., inclusion of entity within location) and paradigmatic partitivity (i.e., instantiation (or staging) of the member(s) of the class/type). Thus, the semantic case of the NP of EC should be regarded as Partitive, although the surface morphological case of the NP in affirmative EC is nominative. The assignment of Partitive case to NP signifies that the NP is never interpreted as identifiable. It may only have either sortal or specific interpretation. This peculiarity of EC helps to explain why EC frequent1y functions as background or orientation in narrative discourse. It also helps to explain the fact that EC is a welcome candidate for indirect speech act. Interconnecting semantic and discourse-speech act levels, the Hypothesis of Pragmatic Indefiniteness" stands out as an effective tool to explain the characteristics of EC.