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adverbs in -ly being in fact adjectives of specific com-binability [Смирницкий, 1959, 174-175].
The strong point of the adjectival interpretation of qualitative adverbs in -ly is the demonstration of the
actual similarity between the two lexemic sets in their broader evaluative function, which fact provides for the
near-identity of the adjectival and adverbial grammatical categories of comparison. On the whole, however, the
theory in question is hardly acceptable for the mere reason that derivative relations in general are not at all
relations of lexico-grammatical identity; for that matter, they are rather relations of non-identity, since they
actually constitute a system of production of one type of lexical units from another type of lexical units. As for
the types of units belonging to the same or different lexemic classes, this is a question of their actual status in
the system of lexicon, i.e. in the lexemic paradigm ot nomination reflecting the fundamental correlations be-
tween the lexemic sets of language (see Ch. IV, § 8). Since the English lexicon does distinguish adjectives and
adverbs; since adjectives are substantive-qualifying words in distinction to adverbs, which are non-substantive
qualifying words; since, finally, adverbs in -ly do preserve this fundamental non-substantive-qualification
character - there cannot be any question of their being "adjectives" in any rationally conceivable way. As for the
regularity or irregularity of derivation, it is absolutely irrelevant to the identification of their class-lexemic na-
ture.
Thus, the whole problem is not a problem of part-of-speech identity, it is a problem of inter-class
connections, in particular, of inter-class systemic division of functions, and, certainly, of the correlative status
of the compared units in the lexical paradigm of nomination.
But worthy of attention is the relation of the adverbs in question to adverbs of other types and varieties, i.e.
their intra-class correlations. As a matter of fact, the derivational features of other adverbs, in sharp contrast to
the -ly-adverbs, are devoid of uniformity to such an extent that practically all of them fall into a multitude of
minor non-productive derivational groups. Besides, the bulk of notional qualitative adverbs of other than -ly-
derivation have -ly-correlatives (both of similar and dissimilar meanings and connotations). These facts cannot
but show that adverbs in -ly should be looked upon as the standard type of the English adverb as a whole.
C H A P T E R XX
SYNTAGMATIC CONNECTIONS OF WORDS
§ 1. Performing their semantic functions, words in an utterance form various syntagmatic connections
with one another.
One should distinguish between syntagmatic groupings of notional words alone, syntagmatic groupings of
notional words with functional words, and syntagmatic groupings of functional words alone.
Different combinations of notional words (notional phrases) have a clearly pronounced self-dependent
nominative destination, they denote complex phenomena and their properties in their inter-connections,
including dynamic inter-connections (semi-predicative combinations). Cf:. a sudden trembling; a soul in pain;
hurrying along the stream; to lead to a cross-road; strangely familiar; so sure of their aims.
Combinations of a notional word with a functional word are equivalent to separate words by their
nominative function. Since a functional word expresses some abstract relation, such combinations, as a rule, are
quite obviously non-self-dependent; they are, as it were, stamped as artificially isolated from the context. Cf:. in
a low voice; with difficulty; must finish; but a moment; and Jimmy, too cold; so unexpectedly.
We call these combinations "formative" ones. Their contextual dependence ("synsemantism") is quite
natural; functionally they may be compared to separate notional words used in various marked grammatical
forms (such as, for instance, indirect cases of nouns).
Cf.: Ens. Mr. Snow's-of Mr. Snow; him-to him; Russ. Иванов - к Иванову; лесом - через лес.
Expanding the cited formative phrases with the corresponding notional words one can obtain notional
phrases of contextually self-dependent value ("autosemantic" at their level of functioning). Cf.: Eng. Mr.
Snow's considerations - the considerations of Mr. Snow, gave it him-gave it to him; Russ. позвонили Иванову
-
позвонили к Иванову; шли лесом-шли через лес.
In this connection we should remember that among the notional word-classes only the noun has a full
nominative force, for it directly names a substance. Similarly, we may assert that among various phrase-types it
is the noun-phrase that has a full phrasal nominative force (see further).
As for syntagmatic groupings of functional words, they are essentially analogous to separate functional
words and are used as connectors and specifiers of notional elements of various status. Cf.: out of; up to; so
that; such as; must be able; don't let's.