Vaadeldes konvergentsi: eesti liitsõnad ja nende vasted Eesti vene keeles
A Case of Convergence: Some Estonian Compounds and their Equivalents in the Local Variant of Russian

Summary/Abstract: The article is a qualitative study that considers the equivalents of some Estonian compound nouns (CN) (NGen + NNom or NNom + NNom), used in the local variant of Russian. The paper deals with the patterns of equivalent formation, their differences from the Russian spoken in Russia, possible convergence towards Estonian, and some sociolinguistic aspects possibly affecting the linguistic behaviour of Russian speakers. The analysis is based on two concepts: code-copying (Johanson) and facilitation in convergence (Clyne). Eight patterns for Russian equivalents of Estonian CN have been found, some of which are perceived as unacceptable by Russian-speaking natives of Russia. The Russian equivalents of Estonian CN show a tendency towards convergence in that the modifier, rendered either as an ana- lytical adjective, abbreviation or relative adjective, precedes its head. Another op- tion is global copying of the Estonian CN. While analytic adjectives are productive in contemporary standard Russian, the present sociolinguistic situation favours transfer from Estonian and, as a result, the local Russian equivalents tend to copy their Estonian models. As for Russian-speakers from Russia they may perceive those equivalents as unusual, strange or unintelligible.

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