schastlivo

[R. M. Cleminson]

This is a complicated question (as indeed one might have inferred from the fact that you trouble to ask it).  In modern standard Russian it seems reasonably clear that the adjective счастливый is stressed on the second syllable in the long form and on the first syllable in the short form/adverb (when it is actually used as an adverb).  However, it was not ever thus: in Pushkin we find счастливый stressed on the first syllable and счастлив stressed on the second!  Both these I think are now regarded as archaic, though possibly still theoretically permissible.  I cannot offer any suggestions why this switchover should have happened.  

However, it seems to be clear that when счастливо is used as a greeting (or part of one) it is always stressed on the second syllable.  This at least can be explained as a fossilised form that has persisted in this particular context, having gone its separate way from the adjective from which it was originally derived. 

But can anyone explain the development of the stress in that adjective?

----- Pôvodná správa -----
Od: "John Dingley" <jdingley43 at GMAIL.COM>
Komu: SEELANGS at bama.ua.edu
Odoslané: pondelok, 24. október 2011 17:46:25
Predmet: [SEELANGS] schastlivo

Hi!

Where is schastlivo stressed in the following? Is it
schästlivo or schastlívo?

1. Mne zdes' schastlivo.

2. Uzhe uxodish'? Schastlivo!

3. Schastlivo ostavat'sja!

John Dingley

-- 
http://members.shaw.ca/johndingley/home.html

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