Since pronouns are the main grammatical devices by which acts of speaking are tied to the persons who are engaged in the conversation, many linguists investigate how pronouns are employed as a means of coming to understand the ways that speech and society are related.
The expression ‘central pronouns’ for personal , reflexive and possessive pronouns suggests that these subclasses have a number of features in common and that other, more peripheral pronominal subclasses can be characterized by properties not shared by all members. It appears that the class of pronouns is conceptualized by Quirk et al. and other authors as something like a ‘cluster’ or ‘radial category’ with a prototypical core represented by personal pronouns. With regard to their referential functions, those pronouns are traditionally described in terms of deixis and anaphora.
The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the pronominal systems of English, German and Russian and to compare them. The special focus of comparison is the reflexive pronouns due to their complexity and in some aspects controversy.
Table of Contents
1. Pronouns as a word class
2. English
2.1. General functions of English pronouns
2.2. Types of English pronouns
2.2.1. Personal pronouns
2.2.2. Demonstrative pronouns
3. German
3.1. Subclasses of pronouns in German
4. Russian
4.1. Personal pronouns
4.2. The possessive pronouns мой, твой, наш, ваш
4.3. Interrogative/relative pronouns
5. Comparing English, German, Russian
5.1. Reflexive pronouns
5.1.1. English reflexive pronouns
5.1.2. Reflexive use of sich in German
5.1.3. The reflexive pronoun себя in Russian
5.1.4. The reflexive possessive pronoun свой, своя, своё, свои
5.1.5. Pronouns сам and самый
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper provides a comparative overview of the pronominal systems in English, German, and Russian, analyzing their grammatical structures, functions, and unique characteristics. The research explores how these languages categorize pronouns and identifies key differences in their referential and reflexive functions.
- Functional analysis of pronouns as a word class across different languages.
- Comparison of pronominal subsystems, including personal, demonstrative, and possessive pronouns.
- In-depth investigation of reflexive pronouns and their syntactic properties.
- Examination of cross-linguistic differences in morphological inflection and referential usage.
Excerpt from the Book
5.1.1. English Reflexive Pronouns
Words ending in -self or -selves are called ‘reflexive pronouns’: myself, ourselves etc. Reflexive pronouns usually refer back to the SUBJECT of the clause or sentence and can occur after SUBJECT PRONOUNS: I admire myself. James hates himself.
They can be also used for emphasis. (Leech et al.:461): It is important to note that -self pronoun is obligatory in English. We cannot use pronouns such as him and us instead: *We kept us dry with a large umbrella. We kept ourselves dry with a large umbrella. There are some interesting uses of -self form in English:
- By (my etc.) –self is an idiom meaning ‘alone’.
- Feel (my etc) –self is an idiom meaning ‘feel well’.
- A few verbs, such as behave (my etc.) -self and enjoy(my etc.) –self, have a -self pronoun which forms an idiom with the verb.
- If the clause does not have a subject, the -self pronoun agrees with the implied subject: Behave yourself, John. Help yourselves to food, everybody.
The -self pronoun can appear in the following positions: - DIRECT OBJECT: My brother has hurt himself. - after a PREPOSITION: My aunt lives by herself. - INDIRECT OBJECT: A young bird soon finds itself a new nest. - COMPLEMENT: My neighbour’s not feeling herself today.
Summary of Chapters
1. Pronouns as a word class: Defines pronouns within traditional word classes and discusses their role as grammatical devices for referential functions like deixis and anaphora.
2. English: Analyzes the English pronominal system, detailing functional characteristics and subclassifications like personal and demonstrative pronouns.
2.1. General functions of English pronouns: Examines how pronouns perform roles similar to noun phrases, highlighting case distinctions and gender contrasts.
2.2. Types of English pronouns: Distinguishes between various pronoun types, focusing on central pronouns that express contrasts in person, gender, and number.
2.2.1. Personal pronouns: Details the usage, inflection, and special referential functions of English personal pronouns.
2.2.2. Demonstrative pronouns: Explores the use of demonstratives to point to context, differentiating between near and distant references.
3. German: Provides an overview of the German pronominal system, noting its parallel morphological and semantic links to noun qualifiers.
3.1. Subclasses of pronouns in German: Details the morphological characteristics of German pronoun forms and discusses the grammatical category of person.
4. Russian: Outlines the Russian pronominal system, specifically focusing on the complex declension of personal pronouns and their usage.
4.1. Personal pronouns: Presents the declension paradigms of Russian personal pronouns and explains the use of initial 'н-' in oblique cases.
4.2. The possessive pronouns мой, твой, наш, ваш: Discusses the declension and compound formation of these specific Russian possessive pronouns.
4.3. Interrogative/relative pronouns: Analyzes the dual role of Russian pronouns as both interrogative and relative, illustrating their agreement rules.
5. Comparing English, German, Russian: Synthesizes the core differences and similarities regarding pronoun omission and verbal inflections across the three languages.
5.1. Reflexive pronouns: Compares the category of reflexivity across all three languages, defining reflexive pronouns in relation to predicate arguments.
5.1.1. English reflexive pronouns: Discusses the mandatory nature of English reflexive forms and their usage for both object identification and emphasis.
5.1.2. Reflexive use of sich in German: Examines the various syntactic functions of the reflexive pronoun 'sich' and its status in German constructions.
5.1.3. The reflexive pronoun себя in Russian: Details the usage of 'себя' in referring back to the subject and its varied applications in set phrases.
5.1.4. The reflexive possessive pronoun свой, своя, своё, свои: Explains the reflexive possessive 'свой' as a tool to avoid ambiguity with third-person subjects.
5.1.5. Pronouns сам and самый: Differentiates between the emphatic pronoun 'сам' and the specific referential function of 'самый'.
Keywords
Pronouns, English Grammar, German Grammar, Russian Grammar, Contrastive Linguistics, Personal Pronouns, Reflexive Pronouns, Demonstrative Pronouns, Possessive Pronouns, Interrogative Pronouns, Relative Pronouns, Anaphoric Reference, Morphological Inflection, Syntax, Semantic Contrast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental objective of this work?
The work aims to provide a comprehensive comparative overview of the pronominal systems in English, German, and Russian, highlighting their unique structures and functional differences.
What are the central thematic fields covered in this study?
The study centers on the definition of pronouns as a word class, their categorization into subclasses (personal, reflexive, demonstrative), and their specific syntactic behaviors in the three target languages.
What is the primary research focus of this paper?
The primary focus is a comparative linguistic analysis of reflexive pronouns, examining their complexity and the varying ways in which different languages handle co-reference.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a contrastive linguistic approach, comparing grammatical paradigms, morphological inflections, and syntactic usage rules across English, German, and Russian.
What content is discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body covers individual analyses of each language's pronoun system, followed by a comparative study of reflexivity, reflexive possessives, and emphatic pronouns.
What characterizes the pronouns discussed in this paper?
The paper characterizes pronouns by their heterogeneous nature, their referential functions (anaphora/deixis), and their role as closed-class words with nominal functions.
How does the Russian reflexive possessive "свой" function compared to others?
Unlike standard possessive pronouns, "свой" is used to refer back to the subject of a clause, helping to prevent ambiguity regarding ownership when a third-person subject is involved.
What is the role of "sich" in German middle constructions?
In German, "sich" is essential in reflexive and middle constructions, often exhibiting active verb forms while functioning semantically in a way that lies between active and passive constructions.
Why is English described as having "true pronouns" in some contexts?
Some English pronouns like "mine" or "hers" are described as "true pronouns" because they can function independently as NP-heads, unlike determiners like "my" or "her".
How does the author define the distinction between "basic" and "emphatic" reflexive use?
The author distinguishes between reflexive pronouns that occupy an argument position (basic) and reflexive forms that function as adjuncts or intensifiers (emphatic) to emphasize a noun phrase.
- Quote paper
- Elena Dubodelova (Author), 2007, Form and Meaning of Pronouns in the English, German and Russian Language, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/301055
