PAIRED MEMBER-CONJUNCTIONS IN INNER KARTLIAN SUB-DIALECT

Abstract

The analysis of the syntactic function of paired member-conjunctions presented in the article is based on the dialectal texts recorded and published in Shida Kartli at different times and on chronological comparison of the latest materials obtained by us during our village-to-village visits. In Shida Kartlian sub-dialect the complex subordinate clauses employ both subordinating conjunctions, and relative pronouns (“vints” (who, anyone who; whoever), “rats” (what, that which), “romelits” (which,, who), “rogorits” (like) and relative adverbs  (“sadats” (where, in/at which), “rotsa”, “rodesats” (when, as), “rogorts” (as) that perform the function of member-conjunctions. The paired member-conjunctions are observed in Shida Kartlian sub-dialect: “vints rom”//”vints roma”//”vints ro” (who that); “rats rom”// “rats roma”// “rats ro” (what that); “romelits  rom” // “romelits  roma”// “romelits  ro” (which that), “rogorits rom”// “rogorits roma”//“rogorits ro” (like that); “sadats rom”// “sadats roma”// “sadats ro” (where that); “rotsa rom”// “rotsa roma”//, “rotsa ro” (when that); “rodesats rom” // “rodesats roma” //“rodesats ro” (when that); “ rogorts rom” // rogorts roma” // rogorts ro”  (as that).  In these complex conjunctions, “that” (rom) has the function of the particle “even”. “That” (rom) strengthens the meaning of the word to which it refers. Today, the coupling of the conjunction “rom”//“roma”//“ro” (that) with relative pronouns and relative adverbs reflects a far-advanced process, compared to the published materials. Migration and analogy serve as contributing factors. This phenomenon can be explained by the fact that the conjunction “rom” (that) is characterized by a polysemantic function. It occurs in almost all types of subordinate clauses. By using paired member-conjunctions, the actualization occurs, the emphasis is put on a speaker, and the emotional attitude is expressed towards the very member of the main sentence to which the paired member-conjunction refers. Shida Kartlian sub-dialect manifests those common linguistic trends that are characteristic of the Georgian literary language and dialects.