Učënye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta: Seriâ Gumanitarnye Nauki (Oct 2021)
'Otherwise, It Is Unclear What for I Am Living on Earth' (In Memory of V.A. Kosova)
Abstract
This article is dedicated to the memory of Vera Alekseevna Kosova (1960–2021), a prominent Kazan linguist, the representative of the Kazan School of Linguistics. Her life as a researcher and educator was inextricably linked with Kazan University, where she worked on the important problems of the theory of word formation, starting from her PhD thesis written under the guidance of a famous scientist Emiliya Agafonovna Balalykina and dedicated to the functioning of word-formation categories in their interaction with other levels of the language. V.A. Kosova pursued her reflection on this problem in the subsequent monograph and doctoral thesis. She concluded about the inter-level nature of derivational processes and relationships and the important role of word-formation science in the process of cognition: word formation, according to her, is capable of opening categorical “corridors” to the secrets of the structures of linguistic consciousness before researchers. By elaborating and developing the achievements of Kazan linguists, V.A. Kosova was one step ahead of her teachers in her theoretical views on the above problem. She performed a comprehensive analysis of the concept of word-formation category and turned to the theory of nomination. She was also successful in teaching, worked a lot with Russian and foreign students, including those in abroad universities, and strengthened the cooperation between Russia and other countries. Under her guidance, eight theses were defended; she was the chairperson of the Thesis Council. For many years, V.A. Kosova was the deputy executive editor and a member of the editorial board of the scientific journal Uchenye Zapiski Kazanskogo Universiteta (Proceedings of Kazan University. Humanities Series). V.A. Kosova will remain forever etched in the memory of her relatives and colleagues because of her exceptional human qualities, such as greatheartedness, cheerfulness, sincere affection, humanity, and responsiveness.
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