Д.ф.н. Билялова А.А.,

Казанский (Приволжский) федеральный университет, Россия

Some cases in the use of non-obligatory forms in English

The article is devoted to the description of formal and semantic variability in the sphere of morphology in the English language in the aspect of optionality. Traditionally the word «optional» has the following meanings: "not obligatory", "free", "provided the choice variant". The problem of optionality in Russian linguistics is described thoroughly in the works of a prominent researcher of isolating languages V.M. Solntsev. Defenition which V.M. Solntsev gives to the phenomenon of optionality, is perhaps the most complete and expanded. He writes: «Under the optional character can be understood the freedom or opportunity of the omission or, conversely, the use a linguistic element, its modifications or change the order of linguistic elements under two conditions: a) absence of any changes in grammatical relationships between linguistic elements in the speech pattern, and b) absence of significant change in the expressed value, or meaning» [1, 93] (translated by the author). We fully agree with this definition, but we’d like to add that optionality can occur only if we can observe the variance, which is in fact the source of obligatory and optional language variants.

We’ve studied some English grammar variants which can be considered as optional forms opposed to coexisting obligatory forms reflected in the speech of native speakers. Modern English possesses numerous structures which are represented by two or more modifications having the same meaning and which can for this reason be used indifferently or optional. Actually these parallel modes of expression, or variants, form an integral part of English grammar. Variants here described are generally interchangeable – sometimes in any circumstances, which is rare, but mostly in certain syntactic positions or lexical contexts or in certain of their senses. These conditions which favour or, on the contrary, hinder interchangeability have been defined with a degree of accuracy that available data permits. In the article an attempt has been made to introduce differences which can bear the light to the present-day practice. Most definitions, or «rules», have been profusely illustrated to make it easier for the reader to see when and how the two structures can function as variants.

In the given article variant use of simple and derivative forms of adverbs is described. It is important to note that the optional variants often occur in the process of communication in different speech situations, and are normally classified as conventional norms. We have attempted to analyze some examples where it is possible to determine the obligatory and optional form of language versions, which operate in a speech. We consider some examples of formal and semantic variation in the morphology of English, which leads to the optional form at this aspect.

Thus, a few adverbs of manner have variant forms – one simple and one ending in -ly, which in certain cases can be used interchangeably. These forms will be described further.

1) Cheap. The simple form cheap is interchangeable with the derivative cheaply mostly when used with the verbs buy and sell. The use of the variants is optional here:

a) ...he was in a position to buy cheap. (T. White).

b) "But I bought some of them quite cheaply." (P. P. Read).

In this connection, it should be noted that in the figurative sense cheaply is the obligatory variant, as in «lie got off cheaply».

2) Close. The parallel forms are used indiscriminately (optionally) with the verbs cling, hold, hug, pull and sometimes with a few others:

a) «Why do they think they must be without real faith, and then cling too close, as if they are afraid» (T. Bowen).

b) But in the general disintegration of all things he had clung very closely to those two women (R. Aldington).

But it should be mentioned that there is no optional variant when the adverb is used in the figurative meaning of «attentively». In this case the form closely is obligatory form, as in «She had not been listening very closely».

3) Deep. Really it is difficult to give any definite «rules» as to when deep and deeply can be used interchangeably: it seems easier to define when they cannot be so used. Thus, in structures such as deep dawn, deep inside, etc. and in compound participles such as deep-set, deep-rooted there are no any optional variants, only obligatory variant deep is found. Conversely, deeply is obligatory with the verbs breathe and sleep, and also when a high degree of some emotion is to be expressed, e.g.: At that moment site hated him deeply. In the following examples, however, there seems to be little or even no difference between the parallel forms:

a) The Brigadier gave a large and astonished gasp, drank deep of his whisky and then gasped again (H. E. Bates). ...she said it, staring deep into Uncle Mort's startled eyes (P. Tinniswood).

b) The Brigadier drank deeply of his whisky (H. E. Bates). We stopped talking for a moment, staring deeply into Nealis's eyes (J. Carrick).

The analysis revealed that with the verbs look and stare the variants deep and deeply are used optional rather regularly.

4) Loud. Variants loud and loudly are sometimes used optionally with the verbs cry, laugh, play, say, shout, speak, and a few others.

a) One had to speak fairly loud to make oneself heard (J. Aiken). ) Dr. Balder threw back his head and laughed loud (E. Raymond).

b) He spoke very loudly to his friend (D. Jewell). Pybus said loudly, with vulgar virtue, "I've been very frank with you..." (J. Barlow).

The simple form is more suited for informal speech, thus it is defined as an optional variant. This is why it is regularly found in imperative sentences such as «Don't talk so laud». Sometimes the choice of obligatory or optional variant is dictated by the construction in which it is used. Thus, the simple form is regular (respectively obligatory) when it is preceded and followed by as, e.g. He shouted as loud as he could. In a figurative sense, i.e. when said of dress or colour, the derivative form is obligatory, as in «She dressed loudly».

5) Direct. The simple and derivative forms of this adverb are used optionally in the following senses: 1) straight, not round about (of direction); 2) personally, not by proxy; 3) frankly; 4) at once, without delay.

1. a) She had tried to go direct to the ultimate security of her street door (B. Kops).

b) She went directly into the bedroom... (T. Broat).

2. a) Calgary addressed the girl direct (A. Christie).

b) The characters on the stage were addressing him directly, he felt (A. Hamilton).

3. a) «I can just as well tell your mother direct,» she said (E. Taylor).

b) «He'll be far less hurt once you've told him directly» (J. Hunter).

4. a) I answered direct: «I think it means that I shall go blind in that eye» (C. P. Snow).

b) The Professor looked at her curiously and did not answer directly (M. Allingham).

However, only the derivative form is used as an obligatory variant:

a) with the local meaning of «right, just, immediately», as in «I sat directly behind him»;

b) with the temporal meaning of «soon, presently», e.g. He'll be in directly;

c) conjunctively, with the meaning of «as soon as', as in «I recognized the girl directly I saw her»;

d) in the position preceding the main verb, e.g. She was going, which I was delighted to hear, though I didn't directly say so.

6) Quick. Variants quick and quickly are used optionally in imperative sentences.

a) «Come quick,» pleaded Rita in a panic-stricken voice (F. Norman). «The police should know about it as quick as possible» (V. Canning).

b) «Come down quickly,» stammered Molly. «He wanted to get rid of me as quickly as possible» (D. Eden).

Quickly is common in the function of a detached adverbial modifier preceded by and, as in «His immediate impulse was to drive out there, and quickly», and obligatory when placed before the main verb, as in «She had quickly fallen asleep». Of the two variants, quick seems to be the more vigorous, quickly the more polite and, therefore, more suited to formal style. Respectively, quickly is an obligatory variant, quick is an optional variant.

7) Wrong. Wrong and wrongly are sometimes used optionally, though it rather difficult to give definite rules as to when variation is possible. The analysis revealed that with some verbs variation is more optional than with others. For instance, the choice is generally optional in the following phrases: do something wrong(ly), guess wrong(ly), count wrong(ly), spell (or pronounce) a word wrong(ly), and there may be a few others.

a) Suddenly I was doing everything wrong (K. Royce). She was delighted when I spelt a word wrong (P. Haines).

b) ...he had, so far, done things wrongly (J. Wainwright). He had spelt 'gauge' wrongly (M. Danby).

When the adverb precedes the main verb, wrongly is almost invariably used, as in «He was wrongly imagining that it was into these new Victorian pews that the jolly smugglers rolled their casks».

In conclusion we’d like to emphasize that optional variants in the system of language should be viewed not as an argument, showing the inadequacy and incorrectness of their use, but as a way to provide additional channels of language functioning, a certain reserve, performing purely stylistic function in certain linguistic and extralinguistic conditions .

Библиографический список

1. Солнцев, В.М. О понятии «факультативность» / В.М.Солнцев // Восточное языкознание: факультативность. М.: Наука, 1982. – С.92-102.

2. A.F. Rodionov, A.F. Variants in Current English Grammar. – М.: Высшая школа, 1981. – 216 с.