Context-Based Meaningful Variation of Lexeme PRAVDA in Oldest Russian Code

摘要

The title of the well-known old Russian code Russkaya Pravda is analysed and some factors that determine its understanding in Russian culture are discussed. The authors describe the etymology, meaning and derivational relations of the lexeme pravda and demonstrate that it syncretically denoted quality (justice, truth, innocence), action that is aimed at investigation of truth that is conducted in accordance with the truth of God and law that regulates the action. The place of Russkaya Pravda in the composition of Merilo Pravednoye (14th century) and the Novgorod First Chronicle of Younger Recension is defined by means of semantic analysis of the titles of the texts under consideration and the titles of legal texts that they comprise, semantic analysis of the alternative titles of Russkaya Pravda (ustav, zakon) and comparative analysis of the meanings of the lexemes under study. As a result, semantic components of the lexemes ustav, zakon, sud, pravda that generate connotations, associations are defined and patterns of meaning in the title Russkayay Pravda are established.