Content Introduction Chapter Word order in english language usi tema

Chapter 2. Inversion and the means of its translation

Inversion which was briefly mentioned in the definition of chiasmus is very often used as an independent SD in which the direct word order is changed either completely so that the predicate (predicative) precedes the subject, or partially so that the object precedes the subject-predicate pair. Correspondingly, we differentiate between a partial and a complete inversion. The stylistic device of inversion should not be confused with grammatical inversion which is a norm in interrogative constructions. Stylistic inversion deals with the rearrangement of the normative word order. Questions may also be rearranged: "Your mother is at home?" asks one of the characters of J. Baldwin's novel. The inverted 'question presupposes the answer with more certainty than the normative one. It is the assuredness of the speaker of the positive answer that constitutes additional information which is brought into the question by the inverted word order. Interrogative constructions with the direct word order may be viewed as cases of two-step (double) inversion: direct w / o ---> grammatical inversion ---> direct w / o.t

Word order and inversion
Inversion happens when we reverse (invert) the normal word order of a structure, most commonly the subject-verb word order. For example, a statement has the subject (s) before the verb (v), but to make question word order, we invert the subject and the verb, with an auxiliary (aux) or modal verb (m) before the subject (s):
[S] [V]
She sings.
[AUX] [S] [V]
Does she sing?
[S] [AUX] [V]
They are working.
[AUX] [S] [V]
Are they working?
[S] [M] [V]
Joe can swim.
[M] [S] [V]
Can Joe swim?
When does inversion happen? The most common type of inversion is question word order (see above). Inversion also happens in other situations.
Negative adverbs
In formal styles, when we use an adverb with negative meaning (e.g. never, seldom, rarely, scarcely, hardly) in front position for emphasis, we invert the subject (s) and auxiliary (aux)/modal verb:
[AUX] [S]
Never have we witnessed such cruel behavior by one child to another. (or We have never witnessed …)
Seldom does one hear a politician say sorry. (or One seldom hears …)
Examples:
Never before have I felt such fear. — I have never felt such fear before.
Men hesh qashan bunday qáweterdi sezim etpegenmen. — Men ilgeri hesh qashan bunday qáweterdi basdan keshirmeganman.
Never in his life had he seen a more repulsive creature. — He had never in his life seen a more repulsive creature.
Ol omirinde hesh qashan bunnan jerkenishli maxluqni kórmegen edi. - Ol omirinde bunnan da jerkenishli jonzotni kórmegen edi.
Not only did he spill coffee everywhere, but he also broke my favorite vase. — He not only spilled coffee everywhere but also broke my favorite vase.
Ol tekǵana kofeni hámme jayǵa to'kib tasladı, bálki meniń ardaqlı gúl túbekimdi de sindirdi. -- Ol tekǵana kofeni hámme jayǵa to'kib tasladı, bálki meniń ardaqlı gúl túbegimdi de sindirdi.
Not only was the princess strikingly beautiful, but she was also extremely intelligent. — The princess was not only strikingly beautiful but also extremely intelligent.
Malika tekǵana tańlanıwlanarli dárejede gózzal, bálki júdá sanalı da edi. -- Malika tekǵana ájayıp gózzal, bálki júdá sanalı edi.
Not until much later did I understand the significance of that event. — I understood the significance of that event much later.
Men bul waqıyanıń mánisine/ahamietine qaray keyin ańlap jettim. Sol waqıyanıń mánisine qaray keyin ańlap jettim.
No sooner had she put down the phone than it started to ring again. — As soon as she put down the phone, it started to ring again. The phone started to ring again as soon as she put down the receiver.
Ol telefon trubkasın qoyıwǵa ulgermesten / Zorǵa / Telefon trubkasın qoyıwı menen telefon taǵı shalindi. -- Ol telefon trubkasın qoyıwı menen telefon taǵı shalindi. Ol telefon trubkasın qoyıwı menen telefon taǵı shalindi.
At no time should you let him out of your sight. — You should not let him out of your sight at any time. Don't let him out of your sight even for a second.
Siz onı hesh qashan kózingizdan uzoqlashtirmasligingiz kerek. - Onı hesh qashan kóz oyin`izdan shıǵarıp jibermewin`iz kerek. Onı bir sekund da kóz aldin`izdan uzaqlastirman`.
Under no circumstances can she be held responsible for his actions. — She cannot be held responsible for his actions.
Hesh qanday jaǵdayda ol onıń háreketleri ushın juwapker bolıwı múmkin emes. - Ol onıń háreketleri ushın juwapker bolıwı múmkin emes.
Rarely have I seen such a magnificent view. — I have rarely seen such a magnificent view.
Men bunday ájayıp tábiyat kórinisin kemnen-kem kórgenmen.
- Men bunday ájayıp tábiyat kórinisin kemnen-kem kórgenmen.