Complex sentences of heterogeneous subordination with one conditional component in the scientific style of the Russian language (based on texts of mathematical works)

Abstract

In the scientific style of the Russian language, of particular interest are multicomponent complex sentences of heterogeneous subordination. They allow decomposing a complex idea into components and conveying it to the addressee intelligibly, which is very important in the texts of mathematical works. However, such constructions cannot be considered as a “mechanicalˮ coupling of different sentences – it is an integral communicative unit that has a single modality in which the dominant syntactic connection can be distinguished. The most productive construction in the scientific style is a three-component complex sentence of heterogeneous subordination, where the main part is combined with a component of an indivisible structure (object, attributive, pronominal-conjunction correlative clauses) and one conditional clause. In the text of mathematical works, where the course of logical reasoning is of great importance, the conditional part helps to identify the connection between two situations, to clearly structure scientific thought, and it contributes to the implementation of the text-forming function of such constructions. The material for the study was the works of famous mathematicians of the 20th – 21st century, the authors of a number of scientific papers and textbooks in the field of algebraic and differential topology, the presentation style of which is considered classical in the scientific community. The article explores various cases of combining a conditional and a component of an indivisible structure in one complex sentence. Structural and semantic features of constructions with prepositive, interpositive and postpositive conditional components are considered. The most pronounced conditional semantics is manifested in the first case; while in the latter case, the conditional clause acquires an additional, restrictive connotation. The subordinate part of the indivisible type loses its independence, becomes like a semi-predicative unit and closely merges with the main part. In a complex sentence, two organising centres are created – in the main clause and in the conditional clause. Thus, it turns out that the multicomponent syntactic construction is in a state of equilibrium, where the complex main clause is balanced by the conditional subordinate part. Such a division coincides with the actual division of the sentence and is easier for the reader to perceive.