Discursive Particles kak ras and Its Functions in Utterances

Abstract

The article is devoted to peculiarities of the particle kak ras ‘just; exactly’ in the modern Russian language. The topic urgency is determined by the recently increased interest of linguists in the functioning of function and discursive units. In the theoretical part of the paper a comparison of the concepts of “discursive words” and “particles” is provided. The conclusion about the intersection of these two categories is made. The choice of the term discursive particles in relation to the particles performing the functions of ensuring coherence of the discourse is proved. Next, using the methods of contextual, lexicographical and transformational analysis, the use of the particles kak ras mainly in literary texts (including imitating spoken language) is examined. Analysing the data of dictionaries, the author clarifies the principles of distinguishing the functional-semantic variants of the studied discursive particle. The author comes to the conclusion that the prototypical function of the studied particle is an indication of a temporary coincidence of two events that the particle is able “to fill” the position of absent temporal circumstance. With temporal circumstance or other component of the utterance, which is composed of anaphoric pronouns, the particle kak ras becomes synonymous with a particle imenno ‘exactly,’ distinguishing the object from others. In addition, this particle can act in enantiosemy function of indicating the underlined mismatch, contradiction.