FUNCTIONAL AND SEMANTIC FEATURES OF THE ZERO MORPHEME OF THE VERB IN THE KAZAKH LANGUAGE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48371/PHILS.2025.2.77.007Keywords:
language, cognition, zero form, zero morpheme, zero suffix, verb, moods, categoryAbstract
The article examines the functional and semantic features of the zero morpheme of the verb in the Kazakh language within a cognitive framework. Although zero forms are traditionally regarded as units lacking explicit markers of grammatical meaning, in language dynamics they function as elements capable of conveying cultural codes. Linguistic units that transmit cultural codes also display distinctive pragmatic characteristics.
The aim of the study is to identify the linguistic mechanisms of zero morphemes within cognitive, axiological, and communicative models. To achieve this goal, the following objectives were set: first, to analyze the lexico-grammatical nature of zero morphemes; second, to clarify their pragmatic and functional-semantic roles within sentence structures; third, to determine the cognitive features of zero morphemes. Contextual and semantic analysis, along with cognitive modeling methods, were applied in the research.
The study investigates zero morphemes in the second-person forms of the imperative mood through concrete linguistic examples, demonstrating that their semantic periphery shifts depending on context.
The methodological foundation of the research is based on linguistic principles from the anthropocentric paradigm of modern linguistics. In particular, the phenomenon of the zero morpheme is analyzed within the frameworks of cognitive linguistics, functional-semantic grammar, linguistic pragmatics, and derivational theory.
The results highlight the peculiarities of zero markers in frequently used verbal categories, compared with zero markers in nominal parts of speech. The study confirms that the zero morpheme not only fulfills principles of linguistic economy and compactness but also influences emphasis and pragmatic clarity. Furthermore, it is established that the zero morpheme in verbs demonstrates greater functional and semantic complexity than in nouns, contributing to meaning expansion in speech acts. The findings have practical significance for research in Kazakh morphology and grammar, as well as for cognitive linguistics.