Foregrounding of Compounds
Nonce-words formed by compounding are naturally conspicuous.
He was a born parent-pleaser. (I.Shaw).
Он обладал даром нравиться родителям.
The following example is curious as the two component elements of the compound have the suffix –er.
“Marta said that you wanted something looked up”.
“And are you a looker-upper?”
“I’m doing research, here in London. Historical research I mean”…
(Josephine Tey).
«Марта говорила, что нужно отыскать какую-то справку».
«А вы что же, отыскиватель?»
«Я занимаюсь здесь, в Лондоне, исследовательской работойю Историческими исследованиями, я имею в виду».
In this case a Russian nonce-word proves to be possible.
Conversion and Foregrounding
Conversion – this typical means of word building in English is often foregrounded.
This mode of word-building is a typical example of compression and at the same time it is a means of achieving expressiveness.
We therefore decided that we would sleep out on fine nights; and hotel it, and inn it and pub it, like respectable folks, when it was wet, or when we felt inclined for a change. (Jerome K. Jerome).
Итак, мы решили, что будем спать по открытым небом только в хорошую погоду, а в дождливые дни или просто для разнообразия станем ночевать в гостиницах, трактирах и постоялых дворах, как порядочные люди.
Conversation is sometimes based on a free combination of words resulting in a compound.
The cat high-tailed away and scrambled over the board fence. (J.Stainbeck).
Кот отошел, подняв хвост трубой, и прыгнул через забор.
Again a case of semantic but not of stylistic equivalence.
Foregrounding of Adverbial Verbs
The so-called adverbial verbs, that is, verbs containing two semes, one expressing action and the other describing the character of that action, are often used for stylistic purposes in the same way as causative verbs. Such use can be traced far back even to Shakespeare.
She splashed the four chipped cups down on a table by the door.
(M.Sinclair).
Она так резко поставила все четыре надтреснутые чашки на стол у двери, что чай расплескался.
In this case the verb “to splash down” contains three semes: the action itself, its character and its result.
Smoke sorrowed out of the chimney. (P.White).
Из труб печально поднимался дым.