---
title: The South-Russian peasantry have from immemorial times maintained a… — Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Musc… · tree and pragmatics
description: The South-Russian peasantry have from immemorial times maintained a firm belief in the existence of water-nymphs, called Rusalkas, closely resembling the Nereids of Modern Greece, the female Nixies of the North of Europe, and throughout the whole of Russia, at least in outlying districts, there stil
---

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# Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore, Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 8, sentence 49

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The South-Russian peasantry have from immemorial times maintained a firm belief in the existence of water-nymphs, called Rusalkas, closely resembling the Nereids of Modern Greece, the female Nixies of the North of Europe, and throughout the whole of Russia, at least in outlying districts, there still lingers a sort of cultus of certain male water-sprites who bear the name of Vodyanies, and who are almost identical with the beings who haunt the waters of various countries--such as the German \_Nix\_, the Swedish \_Nek\_, the Finnish \_Naekke\_, etc.\[142\]

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**Who acts:** Russian peasantry, immemorial times, certain male water sprites, beings, water nymphs · **What happens:** have, maintain, call, resemble, outlie, linger · **To what, where:** firm belief, existence, water nymphs, Nereids, sort, name · **Speech:** someone speaks here

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This is a sentence of «Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore», Chapter II. MYTHOLOGICAL, part 8. The page gives its syntax tree — a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies — and its pragmatics clause by clause: who acts (Russian peasantry, immemorial times, certain male water sprites, beings), what happens, when and where, as Mova's frames read it from the tree.

<!-- .note-en -->
**Parsed by Mova, not checked by a teacher.** This tree is Mova's own parse (the `en` model, on the CPU, when the site is built); it may be wrong.

## The tree {#tree}

```conllu
# sent_id = book:pg22373:26:49
# text = The South-Russian peasantry have from immemorial times maintained a firm belief in the existence of water-nymphs, called Rusalkas, closely resembling the Nereids of Modern Greece, the female Nixies of the North of Europe, and throughout the whole of Russia, at least in outlying districts, there still lingers a sort of cultus of certain male water-sprites who bear the name of Vodyanies, and who are almost identical with the beings who haunt the waters of various countries--such as the German _Nix_, the Swedish _Nek_, the Finnish _Naekke_, etc.[142]
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
2	South	South	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	2	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	Russian	Russian	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	peasantry	peasantry	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
6	have	have	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	from	from	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
8	immemorial	immemorial	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	times	time	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	nsubj	_	_
10	maintained	maintain	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	ccomp	_	_
11	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
12	firm	firm	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	belief	belief	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obj	_	_
14	in	in	ADP	IN	_	16	case	_	_
15	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	16	det	_	_
16	existence	existence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	obl	_	_
17	of	of	ADP	IN	_	20	case	_	_
18	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	20	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
19	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	18	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	nymphs	nymph	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	16	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	22	punct	_	_
22	called	call	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	20	acl	_	_
23	Rusalkas	Rusalkas	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	22	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
24	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	26	punct	_	_
25	closely	closely	ADV	RB	_	26	advmod	_	_
26	resembling	resemble	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	22	advcl	_	_
27	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	28	det	_	_
28	Nereids	nereid	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	26	obj	_	_
29	of	of	ADP	IN	_	31	case	_	_
30	Modern	modern	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	31	amod	_	_
31	Greece	Greece	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	28	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
32	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	35	punct	_	_
33	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	35	det	_	_
34	female	female	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	35	amod	_	_
35	Nixies	nixy	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	28	conj	_	_
36	of	of	ADP	IN	_	38	case	_	_
37	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	38	det	_	_
38	North	North	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	35	nmod	_	_
39	of	of	ADP	IN	_	40	case	_	_
40	Europe	Europe	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	38	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
41	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	45	punct	_	_
42	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	45	cc	_	_
43	throughout	throughout	ADP	IN	_	45	case	_	_
44	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	45	det	_	_
45	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	6	parataxis	_	_
46	of	of	ADP	IN	_	47	case	_	_
47	Russia	Russia	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	45	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
48	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	50	punct	_	_
49	at	at	ADP	IN	_	50	case	_	_
50	least	least	ADJ	JJS	Degree=Sup	45	obl	_	_
51	in	in	ADP	IN	_	53	case	_	_
52	outlying	outlie	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	53	amod	_	_
53	districts	district	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	50	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
54	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	57	punct	_	_
55	there	there	PRON	EX	PronType=Dem	57	expl	_	_
56	still	still	ADV	RB	_	57	advmod	_	_
57	lingers	linger	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	parataxis	_	_
58	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	59	det	_	_
59	sort	sort	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	57	obj	_	_
60	of	of	ADP	IN	_	61	case	_	_
61	cultus	cultus	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	59	nmod	_	_
62	of	of	ADP	IN	_	67	case	_	_
63	certain	certain	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	67	amod	_	_
64	male	male	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	67	amod	_	_
65	water	water	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	67	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
66	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	65	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
67	sprites	sprite	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	61	nmod	_	_
68	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	69	nsubj	_	_
69	bear	bear	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	67	acl:relcl	_	_
70	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	71	det	_	_
71	name	name	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	69	obj	_	_
72	of	of	ADP	IN	_	73	case	_	_
73	Vodyanies	vodyany	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	71	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
74	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	79	punct	_	_
75	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	79	cc	_	_
76	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	79	nsubj	_	_
77	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	79	cop	_	_
78	almost	almost	ADV	RB	_	79	advmod	_	_
79	identical	identical	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	57	conj	_	_
80	with	with	ADP	IN	_	82	case	_	_
81	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	82	det	_	_
82	beings	being	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	79	obl	_	_
83	who	who	PRON	WP	PronType=Rel	84	nsubj	_	_
84	haunt	haunt	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	82	acl:relcl	_	_
85	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	86	det	_	_
86	waters	water	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	84	obj	_	_
87	of	of	ADP	IN	_	89	case	_	_
88	various	various	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	89	amod	_	_
89	countries	country	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	86	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
90	--	--	PUNCT	,	_	94	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
91	such	such	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos|ExtPos=ADP	94	case	_	_
92	as	as	ADP	IN	_	91	fixed	_	_
93	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	94	det	_	_
94	German	German	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	89	nmod	_	_
95	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	96	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
96	Nix	Nix	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	94	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
97	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	94	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
98	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	100	punct	_	_
99	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	100	det	_	_
100	Swedish	Swedish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	79	parataxis	_	_
101	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	102	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
102	Nek	Nek	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	100	vocative	_	SpaceAfter=No
103	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	100	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
104	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	106	punct	_	_
105	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	106	det	_	_
106	Finnish	finnish	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	79	conj	_	_
107	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	108	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
108	Naekke	Naekke	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	106	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
109	_	_	PUNCT	NFP	_	108	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
110	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	111	punct	_	_
111	etc.	etc.	NOUN	FW	Abbr=Yes|Number=Plur	79	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
112	[	[	PUNCT	-LRB-	_	113	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
113	142	142	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	111	appos	_	SpaceAfter=No
114	]	]	PUNCT	-RRB-	_	113	punct	_	_
```

## Pragmatics {#pragmatics}

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | the Russian peasantry |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **maintain** | past | immemorial times | a firm belief |  | the existence of water nymphs |  |  | vn declare-29.4-1 «NP V NP ADJ»: agent=Agent belief=Theme |
| 3 | **call** | participle |  | water nymphs *not said here* |  |  |  |  | vn initiate\_communication-37.4.2-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 4 | **resemble** | gerund |  | the Nereids of Modern Greece and the female Nixies of the North of Europe |  |  |  | closely *property* | tree rules |
| 5 | **outlie** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 6 | **linger** | present |  | a sort of cultus of certain male water sprites |  | there | still |  | tree rules |
| 7 | **bear** | present | certain male water sprites | the name of Vodyanies |  |  |  |  | vn birth-28.2-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent name=Patient |
| 8 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | with the beings; almost, identical *property* | tree rules |
| 9 | **haunt** | present | the beings | the waters of various countries such the German and Nix |  |  |  |  | vn amuse-31.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Stimulus water=Experiencer |
| 10 | **be** |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 11 | **exist** |  | water nymphs |  |  |  |  |  | nom existence «state intransitive»: of=agent |
| 12 | **sort** |  |  | cultus of certain male water sprites |  |  |  |  | nom sort «cognition transitive»: of=patient |
| 13 | **name** |  |  | Vodyanies |  |  |  |  | nom name «communication transitive»: of=patient |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

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**Text:** «Russian Fairy Tales: A Choice Collection of Muscovite Folk-lore», Project Gutenberg book 22373 (public domain in the USA). **Tree:** Mova's own parse, Elamur Cosmic License. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), the chapter read in order.

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