[Bulk] Re: [SEELANGS] discourse words

[Patricia Chaput]

отвечал, а не ответил?


The use of the imperfective here appears to be a case of what has often 
been called "konstatacija fakta" and is perhaps best understood by 
assigning two meanings to uzhe:  1) so quickly; 2) at some previous 
time.  I don't mean literal translations of uzhe and perhaps there are 
better ones, but just a way of trying to characterize the ways that uzhe 
and aspect can be related to be used in two different kinds of 
situations that convey two different meanings.  Consider the following 
examples:
1) Two students, working together on their Russian homework.  The first 
one says, "Let's start with ex. 10."  A ja ego uzhe sdelal, says the 
second.  That is, having done the exercise is part of relevant time that 
began at some point in the past and continues to the present, with 
results relevant to the present moment.  So, to try to make it visual,  
if the present is marked by an X, then    |----------|X
2) A substitute teacher in a Russian class, says "Let's do exercise 
10."  A my ego uzhe delali, answer the students, meaning that this 
exercise was done at a previous time and therefore does not need to be 
done now.  The doing of the exercise was an event completed in a period 
of time not relevant to the present.  Again to try to make it visual,  
|---------|         X
     By choosing the imperfective, Putin is saying that answering that 
question is already over and done with.  Time to move on.
At least, that is my reading of it. 

Pat Chaput
Harvard University

>> ВОПРОС: В моем вопросе речь шла о многополярности в самой России как  
>> таковой и о том, что касается отношения международного сообщества в  
>> отношении России, если она не соблюдает эти принципы: убийства  
>> журналистов, страхи, боязнь, отсутствие свободы, неправительственные  
>> организации.
>>
>> В.ПУТИН: Я два слова скажу. Там был другой какой-то вопрос, на этот я  
>> в принципе уже отвечал, когда говорил о составе российского парламента.
>>
>> Речь Путина в Мюнхене (2007)
>>
>>
>>     

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