What principles underlie Russian punctuation. Intonation principle of Russian punctuation

Punctuation (Late Latin punctuatio, from Latin punctum point), a system of punctuation marks in the writing of a language, rules for their use; their arrangement in the text; along with graphics and spelling, the main element of written speech. punctuation marks, graphics and spelling

The use of punctuation marks is determined primarily by the structure of the sentence, its syntactic structure. The main principle on which modern Russian punctuation is based is the structural (or syntactic) principle. The structure of a sentence is associated with the use of: a period that fixes the end of a sentence; signs between parts of a complex sentence; signs highlighting various designs as part of simple sentence (separate members, homogeneous members, inversions, introductory and other constructions)..

For example: It is known, 1 (that, 2 (in order to see the desired mushroom in the forest, 3 a bird, 4 hiding in the branches, 5 a bird’s nest, 6 a nut on a branch 7 in a word, 8 everything), 9 (which is rarely found anyway or otherwise hides from view),10 you must keep in your imagination that),11 (what you are looking for).12 Here punctuation marks reflect the structure of the sentence: 1 a comma separates the subordinate clause from the main one; 2 commas at the junction of conjunctions with sequential subordination of subordinate clauses; 2, 10 commas highlight subordinate clauses within another subordinate clause consistent subordination; 3, 6 commas separate homogeneous members connected without union; 4, 5 commas highlight the participial phrase after the word being defined; 7 dashes after a homogeneous row before a generalizing word; 8 a comma highlights an introductory construction; 9, 11 commas separate subordinate clauses in sequential subordination; The 12th dot indicates the end of the sentence.

The second principle on which punctuation rules are based is the semantic principle. The syntactic division of the text (including a separate sentence) is associated with its semantic division and in most cases coincides with it. However, it often happens that the semantic division of speech subordinates the structural division and dictates one or another arrangement of punctuation marks (their choice or place).

Place punctuation marks in the following phrase (the headline of one of the articles in the newspaper “Arguments and Facts”) to get several options for semantic content. Stop chewing, let's read. Stop! Let's chew, read... Enough. Chew? Let's! Read? Stop chewing - let's read. (An article about the need to carefully study what is written on the product packaging.) What guided you when placing punctuation marks? What function does the dash serve in this sentence? The dash in the BSP, in the second part, the opposition is expressed in relation to the content of the 1st part (the conjunction a, but can be inserted between the parts).

The semantic principle also allows for so-called “author’s” signs. For example: Without a twig in his hand, at night, he, without hesitation at all, galloped alone towards the wolves (I. Turgenev). The first two commas are “author’s” marks; they are not required by the structure of the sentence. But thanks to this author’s isolation, the signs that are indicated by circumstances without a twig in the hand, at night, turn out to be highlighted, their exclusivity is emphasized. In the absence of commas, this important shade of meaning for the author disappears.

Russian punctuation partly reflects intonation (and this is the third, intonation principle). For example, intonation is determined by: the choice of a period or exclamation mark at the end of a sentence (non-exclamatory or exclamatory intonation), the choice of a comma or exclamation mark after an address, the placement of an intonation dash, etc.

However, there is no literal coincidence between punctuation marks and intonation. This is manifested, on the one hand, in the fact that not all pauses in writing correspond to punctuation marks, and on the other hand, in the fact that a comma can be used where oral speech there is no pause. For example: 1) In the sentence Short speeches/are always more meaningful/and are capable of causing/a strong impression (M. Gorky) there are three pauses, but there are no punctuation marks. 2) In the sentence, the boy carried some kind of bundle under his arm/ and, turning towards the pier,/ began to descend along a narrow and steep path (M. Lermontov) between the conjunction and and the gerund, turning the comma, there is, and there is no pause in oral speech; on the contrary, before this conjunction there is a pause, but there is no comma. Thus, modern punctuation is based on structure, meaning, and intonation division of speech in their interaction.

Punctuation marks Function of signs Example 1 Point Division of text into grammatically and semantically significant parts 2 Ellipsis A. Separate B. Sign emotional stress C. Emphasizes the inexhaustibility of the transmitted content D. Signal of deliberate omission of parts

7 Dash A. Means the omission of a connective in the predicate (the subject and predicate are expressed by a noun, numeral, infinitive, phrase with a noun in the ip.) B. Means the omission of members of a sentence C. Transferring the values of condition, time, comparison, consequence, comparison in the BSP D. Separates homogeneous members from a generalizing word E. Means compositional, intonation, semantic surprise F. Emphasis in a sentence significant parts(isolation, highlighting of words and combinations that are grammatically unrelated to the members of the sentence)

8 Colon Explanatory and explanatory (separates homogeneous members from a generalizing word, the words of the author from direct speech, parts of the BSP) 9 Parentheses Isolation of particularly significant parts in a sentence (isolation, highlighting of words and combinations that are not grammatically related to the members of the sentence) 10 Quotation marks Isolation of quotes, “alien speech”

Read the text. Highlight grammatical basis sentences, indicate how it is expressed. Explain the placement of punctuation marks and indicate their function. 1. Russia is not only a state. It is a superstate, an ocean, an element that has not yet taken shape, has not yet entered its destined shores. 3. It has not yet sparkled in its sharpened and faceted concepts in its originality, as a rough diamond begins to sparkle in a diamond. 4. She is still in apprehension, in fermentation, in endless desires and endless organic possibilities.5. Russia is an ocean of land, spanning a full sixth of the world and holding the West and the East in touch with its open wings.6. Russia is seven blue seas; mountains crowned with white ice; Russia – the furry stubble of endless forests, the carpets of windy and flowering meadows.7. Russia is endless snow, over which dead silver snowstorms sing, but on which the scarves of Russian women are so bright, snow, from under which dark violets and blue snowdrops emerge in gentle springs. 8. Russia is a country of unheard of, richest treasures that... lurk in its deep depths.9. Russia is a country of Byzantine domes, ringing bells and blue incense that rush from the great and faded heir of Rome - Byzantium, the second Rome. 10. And they give Russia unheard of beauty, captured in Russian art.

PRACTICUM ON PUNCTUATION

in tables and exercises

Tutorial for students

Faculty of Philology

Volgograd

"Turn"

Akimova T.P., Kudryavtseva A.A.

Workshop on punctuation in tables and exercises: A textbook for students of the Faculty of Philology. – Volgograd: Peremena, 2007. - ... p.

The rules of Russian punctuation are presented in tables (with examples and exceptions) and exercises for them aimed at improving skills correct setting punctuation marks.

For students of philological specialties.

INTRODUCTION

Target this manual– develop literate writing skills related to punctuation marks. First of all, it is intended for use in classes on the course “Workshop on Spelling and Punctuation.” The manual can also be used in preparation for an exam in this discipline, as well as for independent study by students who decide to improve their level of punctuation literacy.

The manual has a clear structure: the rules of Russian punctuation are divided into 13 blocks, each of which includes theoretical information presented in the form of tables, as well as exercises aimed at consolidating the material being studied. In addition, the manual includes final control exercises, the implementation of which will ensure repetition and generalization of acquired knowledge and skills.

Didactic material This manual is extracted from works of Russian literature, both classical and modern.

At the beginning of the manual, information about the principles of Russian punctuation and a summary index of punctuation rules are presented, and at the end there is a list of literature that can be used to study and consolidate the material being studied.

Principles of modern Russian punctuation

Term punctuation(Late Latin punctuatio, from Latin punctum - point) has two meanings:

1. System punctuation marks in the written language of any language, the rules of their use. Russian punctuation.

2. Placement of punctuation marks in the text. Wrong punctuation. Features of punctuation in the works of M. Gorky.

In the history of Russian punctuation, three main directions have emerged on the issue of its foundations and purpose: logical, syntactic and intonation.

According to logical direction, the main purpose of punctuation is “to indicate the division of speech into parts that are important for the expression of thought in writing.” Proponents of this concept note that, despite the fact that “the use of most punctuation marks in Russian writing is governed primarily by grammatical (syntactic) rules,” “the rules are still based on the meaning of the statement.” (F.I. Buslaev, S.I. Abakumov, A.B. Shapiro).

Syntactic direction in the theory of punctuation, which received wide use in the practice of teaching it, proceeds from the fact that punctuation marks are intended primarily to make it clear syntactic structure speech, highlight individual sentences and their parts. (Ya. K. Grot).

Representatives intonation theories believe that punctuation marks serve “to indicate the rhythm and melody of a phrase, otherwise phrasal intonation"(L.V. Shcherba), that they reflect "in the vast majority of cases, not the grammatical, but the declamatory-psychological division of speech" (A.M. Peshkovsky), that they are needed "to convey the melody of speech, its tempo and pauses" ( L.A. Bulakhovsky).

Despite the significant divergence of views of representatives of different directions, they all recognize the recognition communicative function punctuation, which is important means formatting of written speech. Punctuation marks indicate semantic division of speech. Thus, the dot indicates the completeness of the sentence in the understanding of the writer; placing commas between homogeneous members of a sentence shows the syntactic equality of sentence elements expressing equal concepts, etc.

To a large extent ours punctuation system is built on a syntactic basis (cf. the formulation of most punctuation rules). This does not mean that punctuation copies the structure of the sentence, obeying it: the latter itself is determined by the meaning of the statement, therefore the starting point for the structure of the sentence and for the choice of punctuation marks is the semantic side of speech. Wed. cases of punctuation not related to syntactic rules, for example, setting the so-called intonation dash: 1) I couldn't walk for a long time; 2)I couldn't walk for a long time. This example shows that our punctuation is also related to intonation.

There is often a discrepancy between punctuation and intonation (rhythmomelodics). Yes, in a sentence A pink woman's dress flashed in the dark greenery(Turg.) pause between the composition of the subject and the composition of the predicate (after the word dress) is not indicated in writing by any punctuation mark. On the other hand, in the sentence The boy carried some kind of bundle under his arm and, turning towards the pier, began to descend along a narrow and steep path(L.) after the union and there is no pause, but in accordance with existing rule a comma is placed here (in passing, it can be noted that a pause in this sentence is made before the conjunction And, But punctuation mark it is not marked).

In some cases, punctuation marks are the main or the only way identifying semantic relationships that cannot be expressed in written text grammatical and lexical means. Wed. placing a comma, a dash and a colon in the same non-union complex sentence: The youth left, the evening became boring(the sequence of phenomena is indicated); The youth left - the evening became boring(in the second part the consequence is indicated, the result of the action indicated in the first part); The youth left: the evening became boring(cause-and-effect relationships are identified, indicating the cause in the second part). Wed. also the placement or absence of commas in sentences in which introductory words and the members of the sentence are lexically the same: The doctor may be in his office. - The doctor may be in his office. Appropriate punctuation makes it possible to understand the role of definitions preceding the defined noun: clouds of thick, black smoke(definitions are homogeneous) - clubs thick black smoke(definitions are heterogeneous).

The Russian punctuation system has great flexibility: along with mandatory rules it contains instructions that are not strictly normative in nature and allow for various punctuation options associated not only with semantic shades, but also with stylistic features written text.

Principles of Russian punctuation The use of punctuation marks is determined primarily by the structure of the sentence, its syntactic structure. For example, the use of a period that marks the end of a sentence is associated with the structure of the sentence; signs between parts of a complex sentence; signs that highlight various constructions as part of a simple sentence (isolated members, homogeneous members, addresses, introductory and other constructions). Therefore, the main principle, on which modern Russian punctuation is based, is structural(or syntacticallyskiy) principle. For example: Known,1 (which,2 (in order to see in the forest there is a necessary mushroom, 3 a bird* hiding in the branches, 5 a bird's nest, 6 a nut on a branch7- in a word,8 everything),9 (What rarely comes across and one way or another hiding from the eyes),10 must be kept in mind then), (that looking for). Here, punctuation marks reflect the structure of the sentence: 1 - a comma separates the subordinate clause from the main one; 2 - a comma at the junction of conjunctions with sequential subordination of subordinate clauses; 2, 10 - commas highlight subordinate clauses within another subordinate clause with sequential subordination; 3, 6 - commas separate homogeneous members connected without union; 4, 5 - commas highlight the participial phrase after the word being defined; 7 - dash after a homogeneous row before the generalizing word; 8 - a comma highlights an introductory construction; 9, 11 - commas separate subordinate clauses in sequential subordination; 12 - a period indicates the end of a sentence.

These marks are strictly required and cannot be copyrighted.

The syntactic division of the text (including a separate sentence) is connected with its semantic division and in most cases coincides with it. However, it often happens that the semantic division of speech subordinates the structural division and dictates one or another arrangement of punctuation marks (their choice or place). Therefore the second principle on which punctuation rules are based is principle semantic.

For example: 1) In a sentence The groom was friendly and very important, then - he was intelligent and very wealthy(M. Gorky) a dash indicates that the word Then here it means “in addition.” In the absence of a dash Then would have the meaning “after something”, “subsequently”, inappropriate in in this case. 2) Offer Your applicationmust be reviewed by the commission(without punctuation) expresses the speaker’s confidence in the reliability of what is being reported. And the proposal Your statement must bereviewed by the commission(With introductory construction) - uncertainty, conjecture. 3) Wed: Vasya sat behind,liaison commander and machine gunner (K. Simonov)(three participants in the situation are indicated by three homogeneous subjects) And Vasya, the liaison commander, and the machine gunner sat behind(comma before conjunction And turns a phrase liaison commander in addition to the word Vasya, and in this sentence we are talking about only two characters). 4) Wed. also different semantic relations between main and subordinate clauses depending on the location of the comma: I did it as I was ordered And I did it as I was ordered.

Semantic principle also allows so-called “author’s” marks. For example: Without a twig in hand,at night, he, without hesitation at all, galloped alone among the wolves (I. Turgenev). The first two commas are “author’s” signs; they are not required by the structure of the sentence. But thanks to this author’s isolation, the signs that are indicated by circumstances without a twig in hand, at night, are highlighted, their exclusivity is emphasized. In the absence of commas, this important shade of meaning for the author disappears.

Thus, in all these examples, signs act as distinguishers of meaning, which determines a certain structure of the sentence.

Russian punctuation partly reflects intonation (and this is the third intonationprinciple). For example, intonation determines the choice of a period or exclamation mark at the end of a sentence (non-exclamatory or exclamatory intonation), the choice of a comma or exclamation mark after an address, the placement of an intonation dash, etc.

However, there is no literal coincidence between punctuation marks and intonation. This is manifested, on the one hand, in the fact that not all pauses in writing correspond to punctuation marks, and on the other hand, in the fact that a comma can be used where there is no pause in oral speech. For example: 1) In a sentence Short speeches/always morepossessive and capable of causing a strong impression (M. Gorky) three pauses and no punctuation. 2) In a sentence The boy carried some kind of bundle under his arm and, turning towards the pier, began to descend along a narrow and steep path (M. Lermontov) between the union And and gerunds turning there is a comma, but there is no pause in oral speech; on the contrary, before this conjunction there is a pause, but there is no comma.

Thus, modern punctuation is based on structure, meaning, and intonation division of speech in their interaction.

As a branch of the science of language, as a system scientific knowledge Punctuation has its own subject, its own tasks.

Punctuation as a system of punctuation marks and rules for their use - necessary component written form speech. Punctuation is mandatory and social; the meaning and use of punctuation marks are determined by the norm, the same for the writer and the reader. Text written without punctuation (and without capital letters!), is read three to five times slower than a well-formatted text. With the help of punctuation, the division of the text, its purposefulness, structure and main features of intonation are conveyed:

Lightning flashed far over the sea and dull rumbles of thunder were heard.

- How stuffy before the storm! - said von Koren. - I bet, that you had already been to Laevsky and cried on his chest.
- Why am I going to see him? - the doctor answered, embarrassed. - Here's another!(Ch.)

Principles of punctuation

We must remember that the purpose of punctuation marks is to help reflect on the letter sounding speech in such a way that it can be understood and reproduced unambiguously, without variations. The task is very difficult. Punctuation marks reflect the semantic and structural division of speech, as well as its rhythmic and intonation structure.

The principles of Russian punctuation are the basis of modern punctuation rules that determine the optimal use of punctuation marks.

It is hardly possible to build all the rules on one principle - semantic, formal or intonation. For example, the desire to reflect everything structural components intonation would make punctuation very difficult, since all pauses would have to be marked with signs: My father || there was a poor peasant; Above the forest || the moon has risen; Grandfather asked Vanya || chop and bring wood etc. The absence of signs in such sentences does not make it difficult to read texts or reproduce their intonation. The formal structure of the sentence is not reflected by punctuation with full consistency, for example, homogeneous coordinating series with a single conjunction: Signs are connected with everything: with the color of the sky, with dew and fog, With the cry of birds and the brightness starlight (Paust.).

Modern punctuation is based on the meaning, structure, and rhythmic-intonation division of the utterance in their interaction.

Punctuation marks are graphic (written) signs needed to divide text into sentences and convey in writing the structural features of sentences and their intonation. Punctuation marks are used according to the rules that are necessary so that the writer and reader equally understand the meaning and structure of the text.

Russian punctuation marks include:

1) point, question mark, exclamation mark are end of sentence marks;
2) comma, thyrsus, colon, semicolon - these are signs for separating parts of a sentence;
3) brackets, quotation marks (paired characters), which highlight individual words or parts of a sentence, for this purpose a comma and a dash are used as a paired sign; if the selected construction is at the absolute beginning or end of the sentence, then one comma or one dash is used: I was bored in the village like a locked puppy(T.); In addition to rivers, there are many canals in the Meshchora region(Paust.); "Em, and where are you going, mom?" - "Where should I go?, - home, son"(TV);
4) ellipsis; being a “semantic” sign, it can be placed at the end of a sentence - to indicate the special significance of what was said: What is dinner? Prose. Here's the moon, stars...(Acute) or in the middle - to convey confused, difficult or excited speech: “Father, don’t shout. I’ll say it too... well, yes! You’re right... But your truth is narrow for us...” - “Well, yes! You... you! Why, you were formed... and I'm a fool! You..."(M.G.).

Combinations of punctuation marks convey a special, “complex” meaning. Thus, the use of question and exclamation marks together forms a rhetorical question (i.e., a strengthened statement or denial) with emotional overtones: Who among us didn’t think about war there?! Of course everyone thought(Sim.); A scoundrel and a thief, in a word. And marry such a person? Live with him?!(Ch.)

Compound different meanings can be achieved by combining a comma and a dash as a single punctuation mark (more often they can be placed side by side, each according to its own rule: for example, a dash in a non-union complex sentence after a comma that does not mark isolation). For example: The sky cleared over the forest, - the pale sun poured onto the gray bell towers of Beloomut(Paust.) - grammatical uniformity, the enumeration is marked with a comma, and with the help of a dash the meaning of the consequence-result is emphasized; compare: You, brother, - this is a battalion. Regiment. Division(Tv.) - a dash is used between the subject and the predicate (before the linking particle This), and commas highlight the appeal.

Punctuation rules provide options for the use of punctuation marks. If different signs are allowed, then usually one of them is the main one, i.e. he is given an advantage. Thus, plug-in structures are usually distinguished by brackets: After a few days, the four of us (not counting the all-seeing and omnipresent boys) became such friends that the four of us went almost everywhere(Paust.). It is allowed to highlight a plug-in structure using two dashes: And in mid-May there was a thunderstorm and such downpour that a whole river of yellow water was rolling violently down the street - it was not level, but sloping.(S.-C.). For brackets this usage is the main one, and for a dash it is one of many and secondary.

Options for using punctuation marks are provided for in the rules for formatting non-union complex sentences. For example, when explaining or motivating, a dash is used instead of the main colon character: The separation is illusory - we will be together soon(Ahm.). When isolating definitions and applications, dashes can be used along with commas: The sea is gray, winter, inexpressibly gloomy - roared and rushed over the thin sides, like Niagara(Paust.); Colorful autumn - evening of the year - smiles brightly at me(March.). Possible selection separate definitions and applications with two characters - a comma and a dash at the same time: A calm, courageous whistle flew in - an oceanic one, in three tones.(Paust.). Options for placing signs are also allowed by some other rules: in particular, a comma and semicolon in a non-union complex sentence, a comma and an exclamation mark when addressing, an exclamation mark and a question mark with an exclamation point when rhetorical question and etc.

In some cases, variability manifests itself in the possibility of using/not using punctuation marks. For example, turnover with prepositions except, along with and etc. (" separate addition") may not be highlighted if used with an include value; introductory words are highlighted inconsistently: indeed, in fact, first of all, primarily etc. (they can stand out together with the attached noun).

Optional (optional) punctuation marks are signs whose placement is not clearly defined by the rules of punctuation. Their use is associated with the transmission of a pause in writing, which either reflects the omission of a word (a dash is placed at the place of the omission): No, comrade, don’t forget in a cruel war: war has a short path, love is distant(TV); I wanted to eat, belt - tighter, V rifle and to the front(M.), or emphasizes the absence grammatical connection between standing nearby word forms that do not form a phrase (a dash is placed in this place): In this cry - lust for the storm(M.G.); In the country - field. There are villages in the fields. In the villages there are peasants(M.).

Lesson plan

1. Principles of Russian punctuation.

2. Punctuation marks in a simple sentence.

3. Punctuation marks in a complex sentence.

4. Methods of formatting someone else’s speech. Citation.

Punctuation is, firstly, a collection of rules for placing punctuation marks and, secondly, a system of punctuation marks ( graphic images), used in written speech to indicate its division.

It is generally accepted that punctuation marks are used to indicate such a division of written speech that cannot be conveyed either by morphological means or by the order of words. An analysis of modern Russian punctuation indicates the absence of any strict principle, but a certain internal organization in the application of various principles of punctuation, of course, exists. Punctuation serves the needs of written communication. It helps the reader understand the meaning of what is written.

Modern Russian punctuation, reflected in printed texts, is a set of generally accepted rules for the use of punctuation marks, recommended by relevant documents, and features of individual author’s use.

We find a theoretical development of the issue of punctuation in “Russian Grammar” by M.V. Lomonosov, who gave a list of punctuation marks (“lowercase” marks) and outlined the rules for their use. Lomonosov formulated the basic principle on which the rules for arranging signs are based: this is the semantic side of speech and its structure.

Subsequently, the development of issues in the theory of punctuation (taking into account its history) followed the path of identifying not one principle to the detriment of others, but a set of principles operating in the practice of printing. These principles are formal-grammatical, semantic and intonation. Moreover, the greatest percentage of objectivity is contained in the first two principles. They are recognized as leading, which makes it possible to combine them terminologically into a single structural and semantic principle.

Three principles of Russian punctuation

Russian punctuation, currently a very complex and developed system, has a fairly solid foundation - formal and grammatical. Punctuation marks are primarily indicators of the syntactic, structural division of written speech. It is this principle that gives modern punctuation stability. On this basis it is put greatest number signs.

“Grammatical” signs include such signs as a period that marks the end of a sentence; signs at the junction of parts of a complex sentence; signs that highlight functionally diverse constructions introduced into a simple sentence (introductory words, phrases and sentences; insertions; addresses; many segmented constructions; interjections); signs at homogeneous members offers; signs highlighting post-positive applications, definitions - participial phrases and definitions - adjectives with extenders, standing after the word being defined or located at a distance, etc.

In any text one can find such “obligatory”, structurally determined signs.

For example: But I decided to re-read several of Shchedrin’s works. It was three or four years ago, when I was working on a book where real material was intertwined with lines of satire and fairy-tale fiction. I took Shchedrin then in order to avoid accidental similarities, but, having started reading, having read deeply, immersing myself in the amazing and newly discovered world of Shchedrin’s reading, I realized that the similarities would not be accidental, but obligatory and inevitable (Cass.). All signs here are structurally significant; they are placed without regard to the specific meaning of parts of sentences: highlighting subordinate clauses, fixing syntactic homogeneity, marking the boundaries of parts of a complex sentence, highlighting homogeneous adverbial phrases.

Structural the principle contributes to the development of solid, commonly used rules for the placement of punctuation marks. Signs placed on this basis cannot be optional or copyrighted. This is the foundation on which modern Russian punctuation is built. This is finally the one minimum required, without which unhindered communication between the writer and the reader is unthinkable. Such signs are currently quite regulated, their use is stable. Dividing the text into grammatically significant parts helps to establish the relationship of some parts of the text to others, indicates the end of the presentation of one thought and the beginning of another.

The syntactic division of speech ultimately reflects the logical, semantic division, since grammatically significant parts coincide with logically significant, semantic segments of speech, since the purpose of any grammatical structure is to convey a certain thought. But quite often it happens that the semantic division of speech subordinates the structural, i.e. specific meaning dictates the only possible structure.

In the sentence The hut is thatched, with a pipe, the comma standing between the combinations is thatched and with a pipe, fixes the syntactic homogeneity of the members of the sentence and, therefore, the grammatical and semantic attribution of the prepositional case form with a pipe to the noun hut.

In cases where different combinations of words are possible, only a comma helps to establish their semantic and grammatical dependence. For example: Inner lightness has appeared. Walks freely on the streets, to work (Levi). A sentence without a comma has a completely different meaning: walks the streets to work (denoting one action). In the original version there is a designation of two different actions: walks the streets, i.e. walks and goes to work.

Such punctuation marks help establish semantic and grammatical relations between words in a sentence, clarify the structure of the sentence.

The ellipsis also serves a semantic function, helping to put it at a distance logically and emotionally. incompatible concepts. For example: Engineer... in reserve, or misadventures young specialist on the way to recognition; Goalkeeper and goal... in the air; History of peoples... in dolls; Skiing... picking berries. Such signs play an exclusively semantic role (and often with emotional overtones).

Big role The location of the sign, dividing the sentence into semantic and, therefore, structurally significant parts, also plays a role in understanding the text. Compare: And the dogs became quiet, because no stranger disturbed their peace (Fad.). - And the dogs became quiet because no stranger disturbed their peace. In the second version of the sentence, the cause of the condition is more emphasized, and the rearrangement of the comma helps to change the logical center of the message, focusing attention on the cause of the phenomenon, while in the first version the goal is different - a statement of the condition with an additional indication of its cause. However, more often the lexical material of a sentence dictates only the only possible meaning. For example: For a long time There lived a tigress named Orphan in our zoo. They gave her this nickname because she really was orphaned in early age(gas.). The dismemberment of the conjunction is obligatory, and it is caused by the semantic influence of the context. In the second sentence, it is necessary to indicate the reason, since the fact itself has already been named in the previous sentence.

On a semantic basis, signs are placed in non-union complex sentences, since it is they who convey in written speech required values. Wed: The whistle blew, the train started moving. - The whistle blew and the train started moving.

Punctuation is often used to clarify specific values words, i.e. the meaning contained in them in this particular context. Thus, a comma between two adjective definitions (or participles) brings these words closer together semantically, i.e. makes it possible to highlight general shades of meaning that emerge as a result of various associations, both objective and sometimes subjective. IN syntactically such definitions become homogeneous, since, being similar in meaning, they alternately refer directly to the word being defined. For example: The darkness of spruce needles is written in thick, heavy oil (Sol.); When Anna Petrovna left for her place in Leningrad, I saw her off at the cozy, small station (Paust.); Thick, slow snow was flying (Paust.); A cold, metallic light flashed on thousands of wet leaves (Gran.). If we take the words thick and heavy, cozy and small, thick and slow, cold and metallic out of context, then it is difficult to discern something common in these pairs, since these possible associative connections are in the sphere of secondary, non-primary, figurative meanings, which become basic in the context.

Russian punctuation is partly based on intonation: a dot at the site of a large deepening of the voice and a long pause; interrogative and exclamation marks, intonation dash, ellipsis, etc. For example, an address can be highlighted with a comma, but increased emotionality, i.e. a special distinctive intonation dictates another sign - an exclamation mark. In some cases, the choice of sign depends entirely on intonation. Wed: The children will come, let's go to the park. - When the children come, let's go to the park. In the first case there is enumerative intonation, in the second - conditional intonation. But the intonation principle acts only as a secondary principle, not the main one. This is especially evident in cases where the intonational principle is “sacrificed” to the grammatical one. For example: Morozka lowered the bag and, cowardly, burying his head in his shoulders, ran to the horses (Fad.); The deer digs up the snow with its front leg and, if there is food, begins to graze (Ars.). In these sentences, the comma comes after the conjunction and, since it fixes the boundary structural parts offers ( participial phrase and the subordinate part of the sentence). Thus, the intonation principle is violated, because the pause is before the conjunction.

The intonation principle operates in most cases not “ideally”, pure form, i.e. Some intonation stroke (for example, a pause), although fixed by a punctuation mark, ultimately this intonation itself is a consequence of the given semantic and grammatical division of the sentence. Wed: Brother is my teacher. - My brother is a teacher. The dash here fixes a pause, but the place of the pause is predetermined by the structure of the sentence and its meaning.

So, the current punctuation does not reflect any single, consistently followed principle. However, the formal grammatical principle is now the leading one, while the principles of semantic and intonation act as additional ones, although in certain specific manifestations they can be brought to the fore. As for the history of punctuation, it is known that the initial basis for dividing written speech was precisely pauses (intonation).

Modern punctuation is new stage in her historical development, and the stage characterizing more high level. Modern punctuation reflects structure, meaning, and intonation. Written speech organized quite clearly, definitely and at the same time expressively. The greatest achievement of modern punctuation is the fact that all three principles operate in it not separately, but in unity. As a rule, the intonation principle is reduced to the semantic, the semantic to the structural, or, conversely, the structure of a sentence is determined by its meaning. It is possible to single out individual principles only conditionally. In most cases, they act inseparably, although in compliance with a certain hierarchy. For example, a period also marks the end of a sentence, the boundary between two sentences (structure); and lowering of voice, long pause (intonation); and completeness of the message (meaning).

It is the combination of principles that is an indicator of the development of modern Russian punctuation, its flexibility, which allows it to reflect the subtlest shades of meaning and structural diversity.