Ways of Expressing the Category “Definiteness - Indefiniteness” in Russian, Tatar and German Languages (Comparative Aspect)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to conduct a comparative typological analysis of the means of expressing the category “Definiteness / Indefiniteness” in German, Tatar and Russian languages and, building on this analysis, to develop a system of exercises that allow to show the specifics of using this category in the compared languages. The relevance of the study is dictated by the practical and theoretical significance of the co-study of different structural languages at school in the process of forming a multilingual student‟s personality. The article analyses the possibilities of a comparative typological method of studying foreign and native languages. Based on this method, a comparative characteristic of the German, Russian and Tatar languages is given in terms of morphological and genealogical classifications. Despite the fact that these languages, according to the presented classifications, are not related, the positive transfer of knowledge and skills, as well as language interference in the co-study of these languages are of great importance. The author considers the category “Definiteness / Indefiniteness” as a functional semantic field having a polycentric structure and combining grammatical, lexical and syntactic means of expression of the category under study. In the absence of a grammatical marker (article in German), lexical means are widely used, it indicates the possibility of expressing the category “Definiteness / Indefiniteness,” especially in Russian and Tatar languages. Among the syntactic ways of expressing the category, the word order with its goal-communicative attitude is distinguished, as well as the intonation in the compared languages. This study contributes to a more effective teaching of German grammar in an audience whose native language is Tatar and (or) Russian. The practical result of the study is a set of exercises demonstrating the possibilities of learning the category “Definiteness / Indefiniteness” using a comparative typological approach.