It should be reminded that a lexical lacuna is traditionally defined as absence of a word in one language and its presence in the other. A non-equivalent word is a word, existing in one language and absent in the other one. Non-equivalent words and lacunae are revealed in pairs: if there is a lacuna in one language, the language being compared has a non-equivalent word and vice versa.
In our research, based on the English-Russian dictionary of non-equivalent lexis compiled by Sukhanova O.V., Sternina M.A., we made an attempt to look upon Russian-English verbal lacunae relating to the military sphere. This group is homogenous and may be thematically divided into subgroups.
Thus, the group of Russian-English verbal lacunae relating to the military sphere consists of 104 lacunae. The group can be described on the bases of the following features:
Verbs, characterizing the way aircraft are used
The subgroup is the largest one and comprises 12 lacunae. For example, перевозить, переправлять на вертолёте – compare chopper.
Verbs, characterizing success of combat operations
The subgroup has 11 lacunae: заставитьвсплытьподводнуюлодку – compare surface.
Verbs, characterizing use of weaponry
There are 9 lacunae in the subgroup. E.g.: обстреливать из орудий – compare cannonade.
Verbs, characterizing conscription
This subgroup has 8 lacunae. It can be illustrated by the example of the following lacuna: призыватьвармию – compare levy.
Verbs, characterizing professional activities in the military sphere
The subgroup consists of 6 lacunae. E.g.: работатьлётчиком-испытателем – compare test-pilot.
Verbs, characterizing commendation and penalty of personnel
There are 9 lacunae in the subgroup. E.g.: продвигать по службе – compare forward.
Verbs, characterizing work with orders
This subgroup has 4 lacunae. It can be illustrated by the example of the following lacuna: отменятьприказит.п. – compare call back.
Verbs, characterizing supply support
The subgroup also consists of 4 lacunae. For example, регулярно выдавать в ограниченном количестве – compare allowance.
Verbs, characterizing maneuver
Verbs, characterizing. E.g.: отходить, отступать тем же путём, каким пришёл – compare backtrack.
Verbs, characterizing activities of operational hardware
The group under consideration comprises 3 lacunae. It can be illustrated by the example of the following lacuna: резкотерятьвысоту – compare dip.
Verbs, characterizing training of personnel
There are 3 lacunae in this subgroup. For instance, обучатьускореннымметодом – compare accelerate.
Verbs, characterizing management of troops
The subgroup has 2 lacunae. For example, отводить, оттягиватьвойска – compare draw off.
Verbs, characterizing accommodation of troops
There are 2 lacunae in this subgroup as well, and it can be illustrated by the example of the following lacuna: расквартировывать, ставитьнапостойвойска – compare quartet.
It should be noted that there are lacunae that do not belong to any of the above-described groups. For instance, обеспечить проведение в жизнь каких-либо мероприятий с помощью вооружённых сил – compare police;самовольно уходить с поста и т.п. – compare abandon.
We believe that the description of the thematic group of Russian-English verbal lacunae made in the article will be useful for cadets studying English.
List of literature
1. Суханова О.В., Стернина М.А. Англо-русский словарь безэквивалентной лексики. Глагол. – Воронеж: Истоки, 2012. – 296 с.