THE ATTRIBUTE IN THE FRENCH LANGUAGE AND ITS EQUIVALENTS IN THE MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE: METALANGUSTIC SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

Abstract

The attribute in the French language is the part of the sentence whose function is to provide a description of the subject by means of a copula verb as an intermediary, or of the direct object via transitive verbs. In the Macedonian grammar, this definition refers to the part of the sentence that functions as the nominal part of the predicate. When the French attribute refers to the subject of the sentence, then, a distinction can be made between two types of attribute: a) basic attribute, and b) auxiliary attribute of the subject. The metalinguistic equivalent of the first type of attribute in Macedonian is the nominal part of the predicate, whereas in the case of the second type of attribute, the equivalent is the integrated predicative attribute. Similarly, the attribute of the object in the French grammar distinguishes between: a) basic attribute and b) auxiliary attribute of the object. The basic attribute of the object in the Macedonian grammar is treated as an independent part of the predicate. The term integrated predicative attribute is used in the case of the auxiliary attribute of the object as well. Nevertheless, the term attribute in the Macedonian language refers to a sentential member which is independent and of secondary importance, and which determines a particular nominal constituent from the perspective of a specific feature, directly and without the interference of a verb. The French equivalent of the Macedonian attribute is the epithet. Taking into consideration these formal differences relating to the attribute in these two languages, this paper offers an overview of various examples which clearly illustrate the usage of all these different types of attribute in the French language. Additionally, it also aims to clarify the metalinguistic differences which exist in French and in Macedonian.