The Use of Etiquette Interjections “Zdravstvuy(te)” and “Spasibo” in Modern Russian

Resumen

The article focuses on the analysis of etiquette interjections in the Russian language, particularly the words «здравствуй(те)» (hello) and «спасибо» (thank you), which play a significant role in speech etiquette. The study examines their origins, semantic and syntactic features, as well as their usage in contemporary speech. Based on data from the National Corpus of the Russian Language (2013–2022), a comprehensive analysis of their usage is conducted, identifying their main functions and usage patterns. The etymological roots of «здравствуй(те)» are explored, including its connec-tion to the verb «здравствовать» (to be healthy) and the process of lexicalization that transformed it into an independent lexical unit. In modern speech, «здравствуй(те)» primarily functions as a greet-ing but can also express emotions such as surprise or dissatisfaction. The word «спасибо» is analyzed in terms of its phonetic evolution, semantic development, and syntactic roles. It is revealed that «спасибо» can serve as an interjection, a noun, or an impersonal predicative, showcasing its transi-tional nature between different parts of speech. Special attention is given to its role in constructions with the dative case, prepositions, and adjectives, highlighting its grammatical versatility. The results confirm that both words have undergone complex processes of lexicalization, losing their connection to their original forms and acquiring new functions in modern Russian. The article emphasizes the importance of further research into these lexical units for understanding language development and speech etiquette, as well as their role in teaching Russian as a foreign language.