Soft-n adjectives in Russian

[Jules Levin]

On 12/5/2012 12:46 PM, Robert Channon wrote:
>
> / And if semantics is the motivating factor, then how to we explain 
> синий? /
>
Time to get back in.  First, the historic basis of the distinction, 
blurred by centuries of analogous associations.
In Lithuanian the difference between -inis and -inas is the difference 
between a fish story and a fishy story.  Adjs. in -inis as denominals 
mean "of or relating to" the noun--I've tried to remember the good 
English grammar term all day, interrupted by major surgery--but cannot.  
In English when we want such an adj. we usually use a zero suffix, hence 
"fish story", a story whatever its veracity involves a fish; otherwise 
we can also use a technical term of foreign origin in the same 
function--piscine.  But the other kind is a qualitative adj--a fishy 
story need not involve a fish.  And we generally stick to core English 
vocabulary for those kinds.  Lith. tabakinis "of or related to 
tobacco".  I think one can still see this in Russian, but time has taken 
a toll.  Hence sin', derived from a noun ending in n'.  Note that it is 
sometimes said that the "of or related to" suffix (still can't remember 
the English term!) is marked by absence of comparative degrees.  A fish 
museum--a museum devoted to fish--cannot be less or more a fish museum.  
I suspect similarly for *rybniy muzey in Russian.  Of course poetry and 
general artistic license offer many counter examples.  To sum up the 
whole megillah, All the Russian cases discussed still show the original 
basis of differentiation, but much deviated from the "ideal" through 
language evolution.
Best,
Jules Levin




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