Studi Slavistici XVII (2020) 2
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The Semantic Evolution of the Adverb absoljutno in the Russian Language

Julia Nikolaeva
“Sapienza” University of Rome
Bio

Published 2020-12-07

Keywords

  • Russian Language,
  • Absoljutno,
  • Intensification,
  • Historical Lexicology

How to Cite

Nikolaeva, J. (2020). The Semantic Evolution of the Adverb absoljutno in the Russian Language. Studi Slavistici, 17(2), 199–211. https://doi.org/10.13128/Studi_Slavis-9106

Abstract

This paper deals with the semantic evolution of the adverb absoljutno ‘absolutely’ in the Russian language from the 18th to the 21st century. Coexisting and interchanging meanings of this word are defined using the Russian National Corpus, and the chronology of its various semantic shifts is specified. The author analyzes how, under the influence of the philosophical discourse of the 19th century, the modern meaning of the term absoljutno has been formed as a marker of the highest degree of attribute.