Potential of actualization of converse structures with the verb to meet

• Main Author: Minčuk Inna I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for the Serbian Language, Belgrade 2014-01-01
• Series: Južnoslovenski Filolog
• Subjects: actualization; asymmetry; converse structures; syntax; media language
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-185X/2014/0350-185X1470075M.pdf

The article represents an analysis of functioning of converse structures with the verb to meet in electronic mass media texts. The specific of converse paradigm in four standard situations was revealed: "meeting-appointment", "meeting-acquaintance", "meeting-competition" and "meeting-conversation". There was established that nevertheless the converse structures seem to be identical they are asymmetric indeed: by choosing one structure from converse pair Ivan met Peter ←→ Peter met Ivan the author of the text defines the priority figure for him (and for the edition that he represents). The asymmetry of syntactical converses is defined by the status of the situation participants and can be evident in the following oppositions: "compatriot - foreigner", "chief - subordinate", "the initiator of a meeting - the person been invited", "the winner - loser", etc. Potential of actualization of converse structures gives the grounds to consider syntactic converses to be one of the verbal means of creating the media reality.