Reduplicated constructions with the verb буол- ‘to be, to become’ in the Yakut language: Structure and semantics

Abstract

The aim of the work is to provide a comprehensive description of the structural and semantic features of the constructions formed by doubling the Yakut being verb буол- ‘to be, to become’. The work is novel in that it is the first to identify the types of reduplicated constructions from the verb буол- and their connotations. As a result of the study, it has been found that the intransitive telic verb буол- is actively used in the Yakut language reduplicated and forms a variety of set expressions. The structural organisation of these constructions includes the complete reduplication of the adverbial form ending in -а/-ыы (буола-буола) and the future tense form as a functional modal combination (буолуо-буолуо), as well as combinations of its various forms (adverbial, participial, temporal, etc.). Unlike the doubled forms of other verbs, which serve mainly to express aspectual meanings, the constructions under consideration most often have modal semantics with the connotation of assumption, hypothetical character, special superiority, determination of the speaker or his/her negative attitude (disdain, hopelessness, uncertainty in the implementation of an action).