Russian Thanks: Lexical and Grammatical Observations

Abstract

The article studies the evolution of usage of Russian word spasibo (short version of the original spasi Bog ) throughout the course of different time periods. The article describes its semantic transformation shown in different lexicographical sources starting from the 1847 Vocabulary of Church Slavonic and Russian Language (vol. IV) up until the contemporary time. The usage nuances by “intelligentsia” in the first half of 20^th century are pointed out. As a conclusion it is noted that during almost two centuries Russian word spasibo demonstrates grammatical polyfunctionality traced by the lexicographers: it is used as a noun with nearly complete declension paradigm (lacking only the prepositional case). Following the course of its usage the deetymologization (desacralization, desemantisation) has come along its natural path, receiving a powerful impulse as a result of the total atheistic Soviet-era propaganda.