Wordplay Derivation in Modern Russian
The article discusses derivation patterns in Modern Russian that serve playful purposes. The research materials belong to various genres: mass-media, commercial titles, advertisements, internet blogs, informal language. The analysis of contemporary linguistic theories and results of this study make it possible to deﬁne a wordplay derivative as a derivative word which is part of language play and, hence, a creator of a comic eﬀect. The paper explores features of the wordplay derivation phenomenon contrasting it to nonce words and intentional word formation. Analyzing mechanisms of wordplay derivation and stimuli for making wordplay derivatives in modern Russian shows that wordplay derivation is a complex linguistic phenomenon unites which is of great current interest. It is noteworthy that some patterns cannot be attributed to the derivation process at all. An example in question is “playing” on the graphical form of the word which does not destroy phonetical homonymy; such words can be called “phonetical metaphors”. Apart from linguistic factors, the wordplay derivation process in modern Russian is supported by social and communicative factors, such as the rapid development and distribution of the Internet. In modern digital communication, derivatives have various functions and indicate metalanguage reﬂection of native speakers.