Slovak adverbs chvíľami, zavše and z času na čas

This article uses material of the Slovak National Corpus in order to examine the Slovak adverbs chvíľami, zavše and z času na čas. In explanatory and synonymic dictionaries of the Slovak language, these lexemes are treated as synonyms, which raises the question of their possible synonymy or quasi-synonymy. The analysis involves indicators of the Association measure, from which three were selected, i.e. logDice, minimal sensitivity and MI. log_f (MI.log_prod); the article provides an integrated analysis of the relevant data. It also analyses right-hand collocations with verbs and left-hand collocations with conjunctions and particles at a distance of up to 6 measures. It is shown that each of the adverbs under consideration tends to occur with words of certain semantics. Thus, chvíľami tends to be used with verbs of mental activity that denote uncertainty, indistinctness of judgment, as well as high indicators of the measure of association of the particle with the word až ‘so’. Zavše is more strongly associated with verbs that have the semantics of discovery, as well as with the adversative conjunctions ale, no, and causative lebo. Z času na čas, in its turn, tends to be used with verbs with the general sense of existence or appearance; besides, this adverb is strongly associated with the particle aspoň ‘at least’. Accordingly, there is a certain gradation of the adverbs, i.e. chvíľami is more focused on the non-discrete interpretation of alternating situations and on their direct perception by the speaker, z času na čas, on the contrary, is clearly oriented towards the discrete and rational/analytical interpretation of situations. Zavše in both cases takes an intermediate position, indicating situations in their immediate state

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