СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ МОРФОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ОСОБЕННОСТЕЙ ТАДЖИКСКОГО СУФФИКСА -ОСО И ЕГО АНГЛИЙСКИХ ЭКВИВАЛЕНТОВ

It is known that affixes are fundamental elements in the morphological systems of many languages allowing for the enrichment of lexicon and the nuanced expression of qualities, characteristics, and relationships. In Tajik, derivational suffixes occupy a particularly prominent role in the formation of nominal parts of speech. Among them, the suffix -осо stands out for its productivity and its characteristic function in conveying notions of resemblance or manner. While seemingly straightforward, the precise morphological attachment rules, semantic scope, and contextual connotations of -осо warrant a detailed investigation, especially when compared with its equivalents in a typologically distinct language like English. In English, a different set of strategies for adjectival modification, including a rich array of suffixes (e.g., -like, -ish, -y, -ful, -less), pre-modification by other nouns or adjectives, and phrasal constructions are occurred. Understanding the points of convergence and divergence between these two linguistic systems, particularly through the lens of a specific morphological feature, is crucial for both theoretical linguistics and practical translation

2.1. Corpus Selection: The primary data source is “Reminiscences” by Sadriddin Aini. This choice is justified by the text's literary merit, its rich and authentic Tajik prose, and its extensive descriptive passages likely to contain various adjectival formations, including those with -осо. A readily available and respected English translation of “Reminiscences” will also be consulted for comparative purposes, or the researcher will provide their own expert translations where an official translation is unavailable or deemed insufficient for linguistic analysis.

2.2. Data Collection:

1. Systematic Identification: The entire Tajik text of “Reminiscences” will be carefully read to identify all instances of adjectives formed with the suffix -осо.

2. Extraction and Annotation: Each identified instance will be extracted, along with the complete sentence in which it appears, and its corresponding page number in the Tajik edition of “Reminiscences” will be recorded.

3. English Equivalents: For each extracted Tajik sentence, its English translation from the chosen published version (or researcher's own expert translation) will be obtained and noted.

3.1. Overview of English equivalents and translation strategies for -осо

The analysis of adjectives formed with the Tajik suffix -осо reveals a diverse array of translation strategies employed in English to convey the semantic notions of "likeness" or "manner." These strategies can be systematically categorized as follows:

– Suffixation with "-like": This constitutes the most direct and formally equivalent English morphological strategy. The suffix "-like" robustly attaches to nominal bases to form adjectives that closely mirror the derivational pattern of -осо, as exemplified by compounds such as "child-like," "god-like," and "hero-like".

– Similes (utilizing "like" or "as"): Periphrastic constructions, specifically similes involving "like" or "as," represent a highly prevalent strategy. These phrasal forms (e.g., "like a child," "as if a hero") are frequently utilized, particularly in contexts where a direct "-like" adjectival compound might be considered less idiomatic or semantically imprecise in English.

– Adverbs of Manner (ending in "-ly"): When the Tajik -осо construction semantically denotes the manner in which an action is performed, English adverbs formed with the "-ly" suffix provide an effective and common translation. Examples include "heroically," "childishly," and "bravely," which directly capture the adverbial function of the Tajik derived adjective.

– Specific English Adjectives: In certain instances, a single lexicalized English adjective can comprehensively encapsulate the meaning of the Tajik derived form. For example, донишмандосо can be rendered as "scholarly," and модаросо as "maternal," demonstrating semantic conciseness.

– Compounds and Phrasal Adjectives: English also employs a variety of compound adjectives (e.g., "mountain-shaped," "wind-swept") or more elaborate descriptive phrases to effectively convey the meaning imparted by -осо, especially when describing physical appearance or states.

– The Suffix "-ish": While the English suffix "-ish" can also denote resemblance, its semantic scope frequently includes connotations of "somewhat like," "typical of," or, in some contexts, a negative or diminutive nuance (e.g., "childish" often implies immaturity). Consequently, "-ish" is less frequently a direct or suitable equivalent for the generally neutral or positive connotations of -осо, and its application is thus noted with specific contextual considerations

3.2. Comparative Analysis of Examples from “Reminiscences” by Aini

The following subsections present a granular comparative analysis of selected examples from “Reminiscences” by Aini illustrating the aforementioned translation strategies and evaluating the resulting cross-linguistic equivalence.

3.2.1. Example 1: Conveying Professional Manner

– Tajik Sentence: Дарахтони боғи ӯ ҳамеша боғбоносо парвариш ёфта буданд

— The trees in his garden had always been cultivated gardener-like.

The Tajik adjective боғбоносо is derived from the noun боғбон (gardener) by the addition of the suffix -осо. The English compound "gardener-like" directly parallels the morphological structure and core semantic function of the Tajik original, denoting an action performed in the manner characteristic of a gardener. The phrase "in a gardener's manner" provides an explicit adverbial interpretation, while "expertly" captures the implied quality of skill. The selection among these options would be guided by desired conciseness and specific nuanced emphasis in the target text.

3.2.2. Example 2: Expressing Grandiose Resemblance

– Tajik Sentence: Хирмани дониш аз сараш, кӯҳсосо ба назар мерасид

— The harvest of knowledge from his head appeared mountain-like" (Alternative rendition: "...appeared like a mountain").

The Tajik adjective кӯҳсосо is formed from the noun кӯҳ (mountain) and the suffix -осо. The English compound "mountain-like" functions as a highly direct and effective translation, conveying a clear visual resemblance in terms of scale or grandeur. The simile "like a mountain" serves as an equally strong alternative, preserving the figurative language and descriptive power of the original Tajik. Both options maintain the semantic force of the comparative imagery. This instance exhibits very high formal, functional, and semantic equivalence, demonstrating a straightforward mapping of the resemblance expressed.

3.2.3. Example 3: Denoting Convivial Manner

– Tajik Sentence: Ӯ бо дили гарм ва забони ширин, бародаросо моро пешвоз гирифт

— He welcomed us with a warm heart and sweet tongue, brother-like." (Alternative renditions: "...in a brotherly fashion," or "...like a brother").

The Tajik adjective бародаросо is derived from the noun бародар (brother) by the addition of the suffix -осо. The English compound "brother-like" once again provides a close equivalent. The adjective "brotherly" or the adverbial phrase "in a brotherly fashion" are also highly effective, comprehensively capturing the implied inherent quality of affection and camaraderie associated with a brother. The choice among these forms may be influenced by considerations of stylistic preference or the syntactic flow within the English sentence.

4.1. Synthesis of morphological findings

The analysis consistently demonstrates that the suffix -осо predominantly functions in the derivational morphology of Tajik by attaching to nominal bases, thereby forming adjectives that primarily denote resemblance or manner. This study confirms the consistent nature of its morphological attachment, characterized by minimal phonological alterations at the morpheme boundary. This consistency underscores -осо's integral and well-established status within the Tajik adjectival system. Furthermore, its frequent occurrence within “Reminiscences” by Aini serves as empirical evidence of its high productivity, particularly within descriptive and literary contexts, where it actively contributes to lexical expansion and expressive precision

4.2. Elaboration on the semantic range of -осо

While "likeness" or "resemblance" constitutes the semantic core of -осо, this investigation reveals crucial subtleties within its application. A critical distinction emerges between expressions of external appearance, the impartation of an inherent quality, and the indication of a specific manner of action. The precise semantic nuance conveyed by -осо is demonstrably context-dependent, being significantly influenced by the grammatical category and semantic field of the modified verb or noun. Importantly, the analysis reaffirms that -осо generally carries a neutral to positive connotation, signifying a descriptive rather than a pejorative or diminutive quality. This characteristic stands in implicit or explicit contrast to similar suffixes found in other languages that may evoke less favorable semantic associations within analogous contexts

4.3. Strategies for translating -осо into English

The comparative analysis identified a range of effective English translation strategies for rendering adjectives formed with -осо. These include the use of direct "-like" compounds, similes, specific adverbs of manner, and appropriate English adjectives that capture the semantic essence. Translational choices often involve a strategic trade-off between conciseness and explicitness, formal equivalence and functional equivalence, and the imperative to maintain the stylistic register of the source text. Notably, cases where a direct "-like" translation might compromise idiomaticity in English often necessitate the employment of alternative strategies, such as the use of adverbs or more elaborate phrasal constructions, to accurately convey the original meaning while ensuring naturalness in the target language

4.4. Broader linguistic and translational implications

From a Tajik Linguistics perspective, this study reinforces the synthetic character of Tajik word formation and offers a detailed, corpus-driven account of a highly productive suffix. This granular analysis contributes to a more refined and comprehensive description of the language's morphological system. For Comparative Linguistics, the comparison with English illustrates how distinct linguistic typologies achieve similar communicative goals through divergent morphological and syntactic resources

Thus, the corpus of our study not only advances a more profound understanding of Tajik derivational morphology but also furnishes valuable insights for cross-linguistic studies. By illuminating the intricate mechanisms through which -осо operates and comparing them with English translational equivalents, this study aims to foster more accurate and culturally sensitive translation practices between Tajik and English. The systematic dissection of this specific linguistic feature ultimately contributes to a broader appreciation of the complex ways in which languages construct and convey meaning, as well as the inherent artistry involved in linguistic transference across typological boundaries.