Учебное пособие 1876

Scientific Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-Didactic Researches” Issue 1 (24), 2019 ISSN 2587-8093

• The infamous political figure from Ukraine, Nadia Savchenko, was nicknamed Nadia d’Arc, which is the contamination of her real name (Nadia) and the family name of the heroine of the French liberation movement (d’Arc) and is designed to emphasize the contrast between the holy Virgin of Orleans and the Ukrainian brawler. Joan of Arc was canonized as a Saint after her death at the stake, so holiness is contrasted with meanness (“Nothing should tarnish a sacred image of “Nadia d’Arc””):

Today in Ukraine pilot Savchenko, arrested in Russia, is promoted to the level of any Joan of Arc. In a caricature version, adjusted to the Ukrainian reality.

TV channel “Euronews” simply cut out the footage, on which Savchenko offends the Russian court with an indecent gesture. Nothing should tarnish a s a c r e d i m a g e o f

“ N a d i a d ’ A r c ” . Even she herself! [38*, p. 5].

• But B. Obama fully justifies the allusive name Trotsky, which is used as the main component of his nickname “Black Trotskyist”:

French newspaper Libertation claims that the American President “remained true to his approach – no agreement, no confrontation” in China. In short, B. Obama behaves like… opportunist Leon Trotsky with his formula “no peace, no war, and the army to dissolve”.

Frightened by this position, the EU and US politicians only hope that “ B l a c k T r o t - s k y i s t ” has 130 days left in office. Then American policy may change [39*, p. 2].

• Close to power in the era of the presidency of Boris Yeltsin, Boris Berezovsky was nicknamed as the “eminence grise” (a prototype is Cardinal Richelieu) for the fact that from behind the scenes, not endowed with any power or responsibility, he ruled the country on his own, or rather, got his hands onthe country. But Kushner, the son-in-law of the US President D. Trump, is described as the “eminence grise”, i.e. a backstage intriguer, and as the American Berezovsky. In case of using the allusive name of Berezovsky, the Russian reader is given to understand, what kind of ending Mr. Kushner can expect.

Two Prime Ministers, Primakov and Stepashin, tried to free themselves from B A B , the “ e m i n e n c e g r i s e ” . But both failed, they were driven out from the yard. As a result, a person not endowed with official authority and not responsible for anything in the country, twisted our country like he wanted.

And who is the “ e m i n e n c e g r i s e ” , A m e r i c a n B e r e z o v s k y ? In the US, the access to the body turned out to be more unsophisticated. Ivanka’s husband, Mr. Kushner, has become an “ e m i n e n c e g r i s e ” . [40*, p. 1-2].

• The psychic abilities of a major general Georgy Rogozin provided him with the nickname Nostradamus in the Uniform, but the irony here is obvious, because, as it usually happens in such cases, there is no evidence of his super-abilities, except for the credulity of those people, who promoted him in the ranks.

Later, the main Kremlin psychic was considered the first Deputy chief of the Security Service of President Yeltsin, major general Georgy Rogozin. Among the inhabitants of the Kremlin, he was called a “Black Magician of the President, or N o s t r a d a m u s i n t h e U n i f o r m ” [41*, p. 21].

• Out of context it is difficult to understand why on the pages of the Russian newspaper Arguments and Facts a great scholar-astronomer of the Middle Ages Giordano Bruno is called

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Scientific Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-Didactic Researches” Issue 1 (24), 2019 ISSN 2587-8093

Bezmutkovij Bruno (the surname of the former Minister of Sport of the Russian Federation Mutko appears as the basis for the adjective Bezmutkovij). It turns out that the main character of the material is S. Cherchesov, the coach of the Russian football team and the hero of the 2018 World Cup. He explains the situation with the allusion himself:

“Giordano Bruno once didn’t have his M u t k o . If it hadn't been for him, they would probably have burned me at the stake too” [42*, p. 2].

In the example cited above, there is a connection with the PS (precedent situation) of burning of D. Bruno at the stake for his beliefs (as was established later by science, absolutely true, but too bold for that time), however, Bruno had a real fire, and S. Cherchesov had a metaphorical “fire of ambitions”. Such is the “game of meanings” of two allusions in the nickname and one metaphor in the context.

It would be appropriate to quote Arutunova N.D. here: “A metaphor, if it is successful, helps to reproduce the image, which is not given in experience” [14, p. 8].

♦ N i c k n a m e s , b u i l t b y a n a l o g y w i t h a f a i r y - t a l e c h a r a c t e r o r a c a r t o o n c h a r a c t e r .

• The nickname our “Nyasha” has firmly stuck with the ex-prosecutor of the Crimea Natalia Poklonskaya, it was promoted by the attractive appearance of the referent:

Kristin Cavallari presented her hairstyle to Natalia Poklonskaya. But o u r “ N y a s h a ” is still the sweetest of all! [43 *, p. 14].

The nickname has variability: Natalya Poklonskaya – a n a t i o n w i d e “ n y a s h a ” [1*,

p. 2].

• The old wolf Akela from “Mowgli” cartoon is compared to the defender of the Russian national football team at the 2018 World Cup Sergei Ignashevich, whose strengths are experience, authority, unbending will to win, but he, unlike the cartoon character, did not miss and scored a penalty.

The symbol of this Russian team is not Dzyuba, not Cheryshev and not even Akinfeev. Its symbol is Sergei Ignashevich, a centre-back, who will turn 39 this Saturday.

“It was a glorious hunt”, he concluded in a farewell message. Just like the o l d w o l f A k e l a f r o m “ M o w g l i ” [44*, p. 15].

• Hillary Clinton is popular character in media space, but our journalists with enviable perseverance put her in a series of “villains”, and in this example she is compared with the wicked witch Bastinda from the fairy tale by the American writer F. Baum “The Amazing Wizard of Oz”:

Mrs. Clinton, whom in the USA many Americans compared with t h e e v i l w i t c h B a s t i n d a , whose prototype served as the Wicked Witch of the West from the famous tale of the American writer F. Baum “The Amazing Wizard of Oz”, is waited there (in hell) [45*, p. 2].

• V. Putin in the West is persistently considered a chief Barmaley, i.e. the villain from the fairy tale about doctor Aibolit, who used to frighten children in the USSR, but the US President

D. Trump doesn’t lag behind him, challenging the title of a chief Barmaley.

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Scientific Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-Didactic Researches” Issue 1 (24), 2019 ISSN 2587-8093

For the time being, it was considered politically correct to call Vladimir Putin a c h i e f B a r m a l e y . But when in America such a wildly politically incorrect person as Donald Trump unexpectedly won, he immediately took the place of a c h i e f B a r m a l e y [46*, p. 8].

♦ N i c k n a m e s t h a t h a v e a l i t e r a r y b a s i s .

• E. Nabiullina is incomprehensible and mysterious as the Shamakhan queen from the fairy tale of A.S. Pushkin, therefore, in this way an assessment of her financial policy is provided:

Mysteriousness of this woman is truly incomprehensible. She is still being compared to

Pushkin’s magical character, the Sh a m a k h a n q u e e n … [47*, p. 1].

• V. Putin himself is compared to the Gogol’s Viy (“... in bureaucratic environment they are terribly afraid of Putin”), the image of the Viy is also associated with retribution for the wicked (“Struck dumb with terror, they would sink to the ground and die”). It is interesting to note that the image of a negative literary character is used by the author of the material to create a meliorative assessment of the referent.

But it is obvious that V. Putin is really a figure of a cosmic scale. We, the citizens of Russia, do not even realize that. But for Europeans and Americans he is a kind of the

G o g o l ’ s V i y .

It is known that in bureaucratic environment they are terribly afraid of Putin ...

It remains only to dream and remember Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol with his famous weapon of retribution, the fabulous Viy ...

In our case ... the objects of punishment are embezzlers and robbers. They could not restrain from looking into the eyes of the Master ... Struck dumb with terror, they would sink to the ground and die.

The ending is good. Today it is called “based on” [48*, p. 1-2].

♦ N i c k n a m e - a b b r e v i a t i o n .

•As a rule, a nickname-abbreviation connotes mainly that a referent is widely known: politicians Vladimir Zhirinovsky – VVZh [9*, p. 4] and Hillary Clinton – HC [45*, p. 1-2], singer Alla Pugacheva – AB [49*, p. 9], Boris Abramovich Berezovsky, politician of the Yeltsin’s period in Russia – BAB [40*, p. 1-2].

•But can additional connotations be added to nicknames-abbreviations?

The interpretation of gender as a socio-and-cultural phenomenon inevitably turns researchers to the issues of its marking in the language [15, p. 47]. In the example below, the

DAM abbreviation (Dmitry Anatolyevich Medvedev) → DAM, used in the dative case, carries an unusual gender load (the official anthroponym belongs to a man, and the abbreviation has an ending characteristic of female names in Russian). Is it a mistake? No. Behind this phenomenon is the intention of the author of the material, however, so that everything becomes clear, we’ll cite the context: “... they will remove the old spell of the President due to the eternal gratitude to DAM ...” Obviously, first of all, imagery is important for the author, the president acts as a knight, displaying nobility, as befits knights of medieval canons, but in the role of the dame is DAM. Thus, we observe that the abbreviation in the media materials may have an evaluative potential, working on the creation of imagery and attracting the attention of the reader.

Being involved today, they will remove from the president the old spell of the eternal gratitude to D A M (Medvedev) for his feat in 2012 [50*, p. 1].

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Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the nicknames in the media discourse, a typology was built, in which 7 groups are pointed out: nicknames, based on the attitude to power; characterizing nicknames or names-characteristics; nicknames built on the type of patronymic or gender relations; nicknames, based on any similarity with a historical prototype; nicknames built by analogy with a fairy tale or cartoon character; nicknames, having a literary basis, and nicknamesabbreviations. Special attention is paid to nicknames based on a metaphor, their source-sphere and target-sphere are analyzed, the types of metaphors are determined.

We have concluded that in the majority of the nicknames under analysis in the media discourse the negative connotation comes to the fore, actualizing the pejorative assessment of the referent. The whole group of nicknames, which are based on any similarity with one or another historical prototype, refer to the nicknames with ironic overtones. Thus, it is possible to conclude the following: the allusive name in the nicknames of this group actualizes the derogative assessment. In the groups of nicknames, having a literary basis, and the nicknames built by analogy with a fairy tale character or cartoon character, there’s one half of the nicknames in which the meliorative assessment is given to the referent, and, respectively, there’s another half of the nicknames where the referent is characterized negatively, that is, positive or negative assessment is given to the carrier of a nickname in full accordance with the assessment of the prototype image.

Characterizing nicknames (or nicknames-characteristics) can be divided into three groups: with a positive connotation, with a negative connotation, and ascertaining (neutral) nicknames, which neutral modality is common to.

In the nicknames built on the type of patronymic or gender relations, we have distinguished two groups: with positive connotations, in which the patronymic (or gender component) emphasizes authority, sincere feelings, concern for people or just loyalty, and with ironic overtones, when the value of the patronymic component of the nickname is distorted.

The assessment, which is given in the nicknames built on the basis of metaphors, is emotional and personal. The source-spheres for creating metaphors served as the basis of the nicknames in the media discourse are the following: military sphere (infantryman, secret weapon, torpedo), natural phenomena (tornado, hurricane, storm), metal (iron), animalistic sphere

(poodle, Mad dog), entomological sphere (the cockroach in nuclear winter), a plant (the algae that survives on sulphuric gas from subaquatic volcanoes, seven miles beneath the daylight), a modern artifact (a mobile phone). The target-sphere of all the metaphors we have found is a man. We have identified the following types of metaphors: a military metaphor, a military artifact metaphor, an artifact metaphor, an entomological metaphor, a metallomorphic metaphor, a zoonymic metaphor, a naturomorphic metaphor, a phytomorphic metaphor. In two metaphors (of eleven metaphors), the meliorative assessment of the referents they designate is conveyed, in nine metaphors a derogative assessment is expressed.

The study has revealed that nicknames-abbreviations, usually neutral from the point of view of performing evaluative functions, which usually imply that their referent is well-known, may acquire an evaluative potential in the media discourse.

We believe that this study has good perspectives, since the modern society, dynamically developing, presents us with new and interesting nicknames, and, consequently, the mobility of this component of the anthroponymic system would contribute to the emergence of new research in this field of linguistics.

References

[1] Kovalevskaya E.V. Metafora i sravnenie v publicisticheskom tekste // Vestnik KGU im. N.A. Nekrasova, 2009. – № 3. – S. 80-85.

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[2]Mendzherickaya E. O. Diskurs, mediadiskurs i kognitivno-diskursivnaya paradigma v lingvistike // Izvestiya Yuzhnogo federal'nogo universiteta, Filologicheskie nauki. — 2011. —

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[4]Fomenko O.A. Neoficial'nye imena sobstvennye v sovremennom amerikanskom anglijskom yazyke. – Dis. … k.f.n., Krasnodar, 2003. [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://journal.kfrgteu.ru/files/1/2011_2_18.pdf http://cheloveknauka.com/neofitsialnye-imena- sobstvennye-v-sovremennom-amerikanskom-angliyskom-yazyke (data obrashcheniya 10.01.2019).

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[10]Temnova E.V. Funkcional'no-pragmaticheskaya rol' metafory v publicisticheskom diskurse (na materiale anglijskogo yazyka) – Dis. … k.f.n., Moskva, 2004. – 194 s.

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[12]Naumova T. M. Rol' allyuzivnyh antroponimov v akcentirovanii cennostnogo ehlementa britanskih lingvokul'turnyh konceptov // Vestnik Chelyabinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2013. – № 4 (295). – Filologiya. Iskusstvovedenie. – Vyp. 75. – S. 82–85.

[13]Naumova T. M. Anglijskie allyuzivnye antroponimy kak sostavlyayushchaya obraznogo komponenta britanskih lingvokul'turnyh konceptov (na primere koncepta ‘optimism’) // Vestnik CHelyabinskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2010. – № 21 (202). –

Filologiya. Iskusstvovedenie. – Vyp. 45. – S. 83–85.

[14]Arutyunova N.D. Metafora i diskurs. Vstupitel'naya stat'ya // Teoriya metafory. Sbornik / Obshch. red. Arutyunovoj N.D., Zhurinskoj M.A. – M.: Progress, 1990. – 512 s.

[15]Rezanova Z.I. Gendernaya metafora: tipologiya, leksikograficheskaya interpretaciya, kontekstnaya reprezentaciya // Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2011. – № 2 (14). – Filologiya. – S. 47-57.

Analysed sources

[1*] AN, №25 (516), 30 iyunya-6 iyulya 2016 goda.

[2*] AN, №40 (481), 22-28 oktyabrya 2015 goda. [3*] AN, №47 (488), 10-16 dekabrya 2015 goda.

[4*] AN, №27 (518), cht. 14-20 iyulya 2016 goda.

[5*] AN, №29 (470), 6-12 avgusta 2015 goda.

[6*] AN, №29 (520), 28 iyulya 2016 goda.

[7*] The Daily Telegraph, June 29, 1996.

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[8*] Run, Biden, run! – Column [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/08/03/clinton-scandals-biden-presidential- campaign-column/31033835/ (Data obrashcheniya 04.08.15).

[9*] KP, № 53 (26381), 15 maya 2015 goda.

[10*] Znakovye veshchi Chanel: tvidovyj zhaket [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://style.rbc.ru/news/style/2013/12/03/17288/ (data obrashcheniya 30.03.2015).

[11*] KP, №28-t (26403-t), 9-16 iyulya 2015 goda.

[12*] AN, №17 (508), 6-11 maya 2016 goda. [13*] KP, №76 (26404), 10-11 iyulya 2015 goda.

[14*] AN, №21 (462), chetverg 11 iyunya 2015 goda. [15*] KP, №10 (26487), 2 fevralya 2016 goda.

[16*] AN, №26 (467), 16 iyulya 2015 goda.

[17*] Theresa May, Britain’s Lady of Perpetual Crisis [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/16/world/europe/britain-brexit-theresa-may.html (data obrashcheniya 06.02.2019).

[18*] A bloody difficult woman? Theresa May isn’t nearly difficult enough [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/a-bloody-difficult-woman-theresa-may- isn-t-nearly-difficult-enough-1.3571304 (data obrashcheniya 06.02.2019).

[19*] AN, №46 (487), 3-9 dekabrya 2015 goda.

[20*] KP, №96 (26424), sr.-cht. 26-27 avgusta 2015 goda.

[21*] Vesti.Ru: Nezadolgo do svoego 60-letiya Bryus Uillis vossoedinilsya s Demi Mur [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: www.vesti.ru/m/doc.html (data obrashcheniya 20.03.2015).

[22*] KP, № 87 (26864), 10 avgusta 2018 goda. [23*] AN, №24 (465), 2 iyulya 2015 goda. [24*] AN, №30 (521), 4-10 avgusta 2016 goda.

[25*] KP, №45 (26373), 24 aprelya 2015 goda.

[26*] AiF, №39 (1872), 28 sentyabrya-4 oktyabrya 2016 goda. [27*] AN, №35 (628), 6-12 sentyabrya 2018 goda.

[28*] KP, №33-t (26569-t), 18-25 avgusta 2016 goda.

[29*] Tory activists call Theresa May ‘Mummy’ because motherhood is the one kind of female power her party tolerates / Independent [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/theresa-may-called-mummy-by-tory-conservative- activists-why-motherhood-female-power-a7707841.html (data obrashcheniya 04.02.19).

[30*] KP, №116 (26444), vtornik, 13 oktyabrya 2015. [31*] KP, №135 (26612), 29 noyabrya 2016 goda.

[32*] AiF Chernozem'e, №22(1803) 27 maya-2 iyunya 2015 goda. [33*] KP, №103 (26431), 11 sentyabrya 2015 goda.

[34*] Rieder: Trumpmania drowning out other candidates [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/rieder/2015/08/10/rieder-trumpmania- drowning-out-other-candidates/31413243/ (data obrashcheniya 11.08.15).

[35*] Hurricane Trump blows away speech police: Column [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/08/11/trump-megyn-kelly-ailes-speech-debate- column/31419727/ (data obrashcheniya 12.08.15).

[36*] Republican Carly Fiorina smack down: Has Donald Trump met his match? – Telegraph [Elektronnyj resurs] – URL: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens- politics/11794268/Republican-Carly-Fiorina-smack-down-Has-Donald-Trump-met-his- match.html (data obrashcheniya 11.08.15).

[37*] AN, № 37 (478), chetverg 1 oktyabrya 2015 goda. [38*] KP, №25 (26502), 11-12 marta 2016 goda.

[39*] AN, №35 (526), 8-14 sentyabrya 2016 goda. [40*] AN, №14 (556), chetverg 13 aprelya 2017 goda.

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[41*] AN, № 30 (572), 3-9 avgusta 2017 goda. [42*] AiF, №29 (1966), 18-24 iyulya 2018 goda. [43*] KP, №37 (26365), 7 aprelya 2015 goda. [44*] AN, №27 (620), 12 iyulya 2018 goda. [45*] AN, №44 (535), 10-16 noyabrya 2016 goda. [46*] AiF, №23 (1908), 7-13 iyunya 2017 goda. [47*] AN, №48 (489), 17-23 dekabrya 2015 goda.

[48*] AN, №41 (482), 29 oktyabrya-5 noyabrya 2015 goda.

[49*] KP, №21-t (26383-t), 21-28 maya 2015 goda.

[50*] AN, №12 (503), 31 marta-6 aprelya 2016 goda.

UDC 811.11

INDEFINITE SUBJECT OF ENGLISH MODAL CONSTRUCTIONS

U.V. Bogdanova

____________________________________________________________________________

Voronezh State Technical University

Senior Lecturer, Postgraduate Student of the Foreign Languages and Technology of Translation Department

Uliana Valentinovna Bogdanova e-mail: bog_ul@mail.ru

____________________________________________________________________________

Statement of the problem. Questions of structural and semantic aspects of a sentence are in the focus of many linguistic studies. In the light of recent works on cognitive linguistics identification of a correlation between formal organization of a sentence and its lexical content becomes relevant. Constructions with indefinite subject are revealed and analyzed in the article in order to identify types of agent in their relation to predicate element.

Results. The research led to a classification of the types of semantic subject of English constructions with modal meaning. The sets of modal constructions with indefinite subject are revealed. Results are confirmed by the quantitative information that defines the most frequent types of implicit semantic subject.

Conclusion. Within framework of cognitive semantic and structural analysis of English modal constructions, in which subject is formally represented by pronouns one, you, they or is not expressed lexically as, for example, in passive two-member constructions, and predicative component is a composite modal predicate, it turns out that the latter, in many ways, depends on various meanings of subject, taking into account linguistic and extralinguistic factor.

Key words: structural scheme of simple sentence, construction, modality, semantic subject, predicate, pronouns one, you, they, anyone, anybody, it, modal verbs.

For citation: Bogdanova U.V. Indefinite subject of English modal constructions / U.V. Bogdanova // Scientific

Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-didactic Researches”. – 2019. - №1 (24). – P. 60-67

Introduction

In English language questions of indefinite subject category and means of its expression are insufficiently studied and still remain controversial. Linguistic studies of syntactic structures allow us to define the interrelations between semantic side of a sentence and its formal

_____________________

© Bogdanova U.V., 2019

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model. Such studies help to determine the role of subject and predicate in syntactic and semantic organization of a sentence. In the predication act subject receives characteristics of bearer of indication, action, qualification, state and so on. It is important to note that the type of subject to a large extent determines the structure of the entire sentence.

Research methodology

Followed by many well-known scientists, we understand structural scheme of a simple sentence as a typical sequence of word forms denoting subject and predicate of a thought [1; 2; 3; 4]. Binomiality of structural scheme gets a clear basing in the works of V.G. Admoni [5, p. 139-158], Y.A. Levitsky [6, p. 93]. In this regard, it is interesting to view Y.A. Rylov, who considers that it is subject that precisely performs in a sentence the main "construction role". Moreover, he underlines correlation of subject type and structure of the whole sentence [7, p. 26].

According to Z.D. Popova, predicative relationship that is established between word forms indicating subject and predicate of a thought exists only in the mind of a man. "It may coincide with real relationship of senses outlined in a judgement or does not match with them, be false. Predicative relationship is purely objective reality" [8, p. 7]. Academician V.V. Vinogradov considers predicativity as a semantic basis of a sentence, which includes notions of modality, tense and person [9, p. 463-468].

Modality, of course, is a complex, multifaceted phenomenon and is defined as "a conceptual category with the meaning of speaker`s attitude to the content of a statement and relation of the content of a statement to reality" [10, p. 237]. Among various grammatical and lexical expressions of modality the following forms are marked: forms of inclination, modal verbs, modal words, intonation. G.A. Zolotova revealed three types of modal relations: 1) objective modality which means relation of the content of a sentence to reality from a speaker`s point of view; 2) subjective modality that is relevant to a speaker's attitude the content of an utterance; 3) relationship between subject of action (the bearer of indication) and action (predicate sign) [11]. According to U.V. Koprov, objective modality refers to predicative aspect of a sentence but subjective one to relative-nominative [12, p. 133]. T.I. Krasnova believes that categories of objectivity and subjectivity in modality are closely connected and can be separated only in theory [13, p. 5]. N.D. Arutyunova notes close link of category of modality with category of certainty/uncertainty [14, p. 816]. The third type of modality has not received clear definition in linguistic literature yet. We hold on understanding proposed by A.M. Lomov, who believes that this type of modality gives an opportunity to oppose objective reality to potential one that claims existence of possibility, necessity and desirability of predicative characteristic realization [15].

In the structure of modern English language modality is provided by a wide range of modal verbs (can, may, might, could, should, must, ought to, have to, need), where we can trace interaction of lexical and syntactic categories. In a sentence modal verbs convey different shades of modality: obligation, necessity, possibility, opportunity, desirability, etc. Modal predicate is a combination of a modal verb and infinitive.

It should be noted that English constructions with indefinite subject quite often express a speaker's opinion about a situation of communication, thus introducing the modus content.

The object of our study is English modal constructions with indefinite subject. The submitted research focuses on semantics of constructions where predicative component is modal verb + infinitive and subjective component represented by indefinite person.

The aim of the research is to identify types of indefinite subject in English constructions with modal meaning, to describe features that characterize subject and predicate and to reveal the role of indefinite subject in the choice of verb component of a construction.

Texts of English literature works, collections of proverbs became the material of our study. 690 text fragments with modal structures, in which subject is presented implicitly were analysed.

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Scientific Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-Didactic Researches” Issue 1 (24), 2019 ISSN 2587-8093

Method of cognitive interpretation of sentence structural schema semantics and compo- nent-semantic analysis of syntactic constructions were used in the research work. Also literal translation method of the studied constructions through which meaning of the whole statement revealed more clearly and not subjected to distortions was applied.

Results of the study

Modal constructions of English language where semantic subject is presented with varying degree of certainty, and is conceivable, implied have been analysed in the research. The position of subject in such constructions is occupied by pronouns one, you, they, anyone, anybody, and predicate expressed by a compound construction consisting of modal verb and infinitive. Passive constructions with modal verb where semantic subject is not expressed lexically and revealed from a situation are also focus point of the research. Analysis of material allowed us to define the following types of implied subject (here and throughout IS).

1. Subject of a defined group.

Agent is understood as a known designated group of individuals. For such utterances names of individual group members are not required.

This type of subject has been identified by us in the following constructions – no one + V Mod. + Inf.; they + V Mod. + Inf.; one + V Mod. + Inf.; N + V Mod. + Inf. (Pass); it + V Mod. + Inf. (Pass).

“In the excitement of trying on dresses she had forgotten Mammy`s ironclad rile that, before going to any party, t h e O ` H a r a g i r l s m u s t b e c r a m m e d so full at home they would be unable to eat any refreshments at the party” [1*, p.77]. В радостном вол-

нении от примерки платья, она совсем забыла установленное Мамушкой железное

IS – servants of Tara estate. It is obvious that only certain people could feed the children, for this speech situation it doesn't matter who particularly did it. The modal construction with verb must is used in order to emphasize strict rules and traditions of the family. In addition, we understand that in this way information about the duties of a specific group of people living and working in this House is passed.

“So, it was agreed without further argument that t h e m i l k a n d w i n d f a l l a p p l e s s h o u l d b e r e s e r v e d for the pigs alone” [2*, p.23]. Итак, было решено без даль-

нейших споров: в с е м о л о к о и п а д а л и ц у н а д о с о х р а н я т ь лишь для свиней.

IS – the owners of the farm. The subject of this fragment does not receive lexical expression, but it is easily determined from the general context. In the modal construction meaning of desirability of action to be performed by the particular group of people (the farm owners) referred to in the narrative is transferred.

“He was courteous always, but aloof, remote. N o o n e c o u l d e v e r t e l l what he was thinking about, Scarlett least of all” [1*, p.28]. Он всегда был внимателен, но не сдержан, отчужден. Н и к т о н е м о г б ы к о г д а - н и б у д ь с к а з а т ь , о чем он думает, и Скарлетт меньше всех.

IS – people surrounding Ashley. No one means only close people or people surrounding Ashley who are able to say something about his character.

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Scientific Journal “Modern Linguistic and Methodical-and-Didactic Researches” Issue 1 (24), 2019 ISSN 2587-8093

In the constructions with semantic subject, which was specified as subject of a defined group, modal verbs with the meaning of commitment (must, could) are most commonly used.

2. Definite known subject.

Particular person is meant under subject, his name, as a rule, is known from previous or subsequent context. Definite known subject occurs in the following constructions: anyone + V Mod. + Inf.; you + V Mod. + Inf.; one + V Mod. + Inf.; N + V Mod. + Inf. (Pass); it + V Mod. + Inf. (Pass).

“What about those lights there? Once you started walking y o u ` d h a v e t o g a u g e how fast those beetles could make it down here” [3*, p.127]. Как насчет тех огней там?

Как только ты начнешь путь, т ы д о л ж е н п о н я т ь насколько быстро эти автомобили смогут быть здесь.

IS – Montag. The character refers to himself and determines that, in his opinion, should be done in this situation. The modal construction conveys his assessment of the events: to determine the speed of the approaching enemy car is necessary for survival.

“She was glad she had inherited Ellen`s slender white hands and tiny feet, and she wished she had Ellen`s height, too, but her own height pleased her very well. What a pity l e g s c o u l d n o t b e s h o w n , she thought, pulling up her petticoats and regretfully viewing them, plump and neat under pantalets” [1*, p.77]. Она была рада, что унасле-

довала тонкие, длинные, белые кисти рук и маленькие ступни от Элли, и она хотела бы иметь рост Элли тоже, но свой рост радовал ее. Как жаль, что н о г и н е л ь з я п о к а з а т ь , она думала, поднимая нижние юбки, и с сожалением обозревала стройные ноги, которые выглядывали из панталон.

IS – Scarlett. The society adopted the certain rules of behavior according to them the heroine can't show legs. The analysed construction, consisting of a modal verb and a passive construction, passes not only attitude of the character to an action, but formality of the situation itself.

“He could feel the Hound, like autumn, come cold and dry and swift, like a wind that didn`t stir grass, that didn`t jar windows or disturb leaf-shadow on the white sidewalks as it passed. The Hound did not touch the world. It carried its silence with it, so y o u c o u l d f e e l t h e s i l e n c e b u i l d i n g u p a p r e s s u r e b e h i n d y o u all across town. Montag felt the pressure rising, and ran” [3*, p.137]. Он мог чувствовать Пса,

как осень, холодная, сухая и легкая, как ветер, который даже не задевает траву, не хлопает ставнями и не сбивает тень от ветвей на белых плитках тротуаров. Пес не соприкасался с миром. Он нес с собой тишину, поэтому т ы м о г ч у в с т в о в а т ь , ч т о т и ш и н у с о з д а е т н а п р я ж е н и е з а т о б о й по всему городу. Монтэг чувствовал, что напряжение нарастает.

IS – Montag. Additional context contains information about who is meant by you. It is clear that only the person directly located in the described situation, could have a similar feeling – could feel the silence.

We observed that in constructions with definite known subject modal verbs of ability and necessary (could, have to) were found in most cases.

3. Subject of a generalized group.

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