Semantics of zero quantity in the Kabardian language: The main ways of representation

Abstract

The aim of the study is to identify the main ways of representing zero-quantity semantics in the modern Kabardian language. The study is novel in that it is the first to examine and systematise in a comprehensive manner lexical, affixal, phraseological units with the semantics of zero quantity in the Kabardian language and analyse the ways of conveying the semantics of non-possession and the semantics of absence in the Kabardian language. The paper analyses the main lexical means of conveying zero-quantity semantics in the modern Kabardian language, identifies typical constructions representing zero-quantity semantics, the features of functioning and lexical composition of phraseological and paremiological units with zero-quantity semantics, examines the main word-formation means of lexemes with non-possession semantics and absence semantics. The obtained results showed that the semantics of zero quantity is implemented in the modern Kabardian language through lexical, phraseological, paremiological, word-formation means. In addition, constructions representing zero-quantity semantics, which contain a verb in a negative form, have been identified in this language.