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Article published In: Similatives: Semantic sources, pathways, and types of usage
Edited by Anna Kisiel, Hélène Vassiliadou, Valentina Benigni, Beatrice Bernasconi, Lieselotte Brems and Dejan Stosic
[Lingvisticæ Investigationes 48:2] 2025
► pp. 405–435

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Noun-based similarity markers in Serbian

A survey

 | University of Toulouse
 | University of Belgrade
Published online: 19 February 2026
DOI logo with link
https://doi.org/10.1075/li.00136.sto
Abstract
The present study proposes a typology of relatively new similatives in Serbian, derived from nouns and forming part of a nominal phrase in an [NP1 SIM NP2] construction (where SIM stands for ‘similative’). In Serbian, there are two semantic source domains for similatives at issue: taxonomic nouns and manner nouns. The study analyzes six similative markers: tipa ‘of the type’, u stilu ‘in the style’, fazon ‘manner’, u fazonu ‘in the manner’, na fazon ‘on the trick’, and na foru ‘on the trick’. These markers are derived from one taxonomic noun (tip) and three manner nouns (fazon, fora, and stil). The study explores their syntactic diversity — ranging from prepositions to particles — and their numerous semantic and pragmatic values, such as similarity, exemplification, approximation, clarification, and ad hoc characterization. Findings suggest that while Serbian follows general evolutionary trends observed in other European languages, it also displays unique features, particularly in the prominence of manner nouns as sources for similatives.
Article outline
  • Introduction
  • 1.Overview: Tracing the origins of similative markers in Serbian
    • 1.1Similarity of quality in Serbian: Means of expression and their source domains
    • 1.2Multifunctionality of taxonomic and manner nouns in Serbian: From nouns to particles
      • 1.2.1Nominal uses of Serbian taxonomic and manner nouns
      • 1.2.2Prepositional and particle uses of Serbian taxonomic and manner nouns
  • 2.Methodology
  • 3.Syntax of noun-based Serbian similatives
    • 3.1Nature of left-hand expressions (X)
    • 3.2Nature of right-hand expressions (Y)
    • 3.3Crossing left-hand & right-hand information
  • 4.Semantics of Serbian similatives
    • 4.1Prepositional uses of Serbian similatives
      • 4.1.1Similarity markers
      • 4.1.2Exemplification markers
    • 4.2Particle uses of similative markers in Serbian
      • 4.2.1Approximation markers
      • 4.2.2Clarification markers
      • 4.2.3Markers of ad hoc characterization
  • Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (36)
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