DZI Bulgarian Language and Literature flashcards

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Definite article masculine

Masculine nouns take postpositive definite article -ът/-ят for subject and -а/-я for object. The choice depends on stem ending: -ят/-я after soft consonants and vowels, -ът/-а after hard consonants.

Vocative case endings

Vocative endings are -е after soft consonants and ж, ш, ч, ц; -о after hard consonants; -ю after vowels and й. Examples: учителю, братко, Българийо.

Prefix spelling з/с

Prefixes ending in -з/-с are written with з before voiced consonants and vowels (без-, из-, раз-) and with с before voiceless consonants (бес-, ис-, рас-).

Comma before да

A comma is placed before да in subordinate clauses when the clause is non-restrictive or separated by other words. It is omitted in compound predicates and fixed expressions.

Verb conjugations

Bulgarian verbs have three conjugations based on the infinitive stem: I conjugation (stem in -е-), II conjugation (stem in -и-), and III conjugation (stem in -а-/-я-).

Renarrative mood

The renarrative mood reports information not witnessed by the speaker. It is formed with the l-participle and auxiliary particles (съм, си, е, сме, сте, са) for present, and бях, беше, etc. for past.

Future tense formation

The future tense is formed with the particle ще plus present tense forms of the verb (ще чета). The negative future uses няма да plus present tense (няма да чета).

Comparative and superlative

Comparative degree is formed with the particle по- (по-добър), superlative with най- (най-добър). Some adjectives have suppletive forms: добър – по-добър – най-добър.

Word order principle

Bulgarian word order follows functional sentence perspective: given information (theme) precedes new information (rheme). The neutral order is Subject–Verb–Object.

Complex sentence types

Complex sentences consist of a main clause and subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions (че, да, защото, ако, когато, който). Subordinate clauses are classified as subject, object, attributive, or adverbial.

Passive voice formation

The passive voice is formed with the auxiliary verb съм plus past passive participle (книгата е написана). The agent is introduced with the preposition от (от автора).

Conditional mood

The conditional mood is formed with the particle би plus l-participle (бих чел). It is used in conditional sentences (ако имах, бих чел) and in polite requests.

Phraseological units

Phraseological units are stable word combinations with a holistic meaning (хвърлям прах в очите – to deceive). They are classified by idiomaticity: fusions, unities, and combinations.

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms are words with similar meaning (хубав – красив). Antonyms are words with opposite meaning (добър – лош). Homonyms have same form but different meaning (коса – hair, коса – scythe).

Word formation types

Bulgarian word formation includes prefixation (пиша – напиша), suffixation (учител – учителка), compounding (железопътен), conversion (стая – стая), and abbreviation (БАН).

Functional styles

The functional styles in Bulgarian are scientific, official-administrative, publicistic, literary, and colloquial. Each has characteristic lexical, morphological, and syntactic features.

Scientific style features

The scientific style is characterized by precision, abstraction, logical argumentation, use of terms, passive constructions, and complex sentences. It avoids emotional vocabulary and first-person singular.

Stylistic devices

Stylistic devices include metaphor (скрито сравнение), metonymy (заместване по съседство), epithet (определение с емоционална оценка), simile (сравнение с като), hyperbole (преувеличение), and litotes (преувеличение чрез отрицание).

Author's purpose

The author's purpose can be to inform, persuade, entertain, or instruct. The tone (objective, ironic, critical, enthusiastic) reflects the author's attitude toward the subject.

Inference in reading

Inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence in the text combined with the reader's prior knowledge. It is not explicitly stated but is logically implied.

Fact versus opinion

Facts are verifiable statements, while opinions express beliefs, feelings, or judgments. Signal words for opinions include мисля, смятам, вероятно, най-добър.

Media text structure

Media texts often use headlines, leads, and quotes. The headline may be sensational or neutral, and the lead summarizes the most important facts (who, what, when, where, why).

National Revival literature

The Bulgarian National Revival (18th–19th c.) is characterized by the struggle for national identity, education, and church independence. Key figures include Paisii Hilendarski (История славянобългарска, 1762) and Sofronii Vrachanski.

Ivan Vazov

Ivan Vazov wrote Под игото (1894), the first Bulgarian novel, and the poetry collection Епопея на забравените. He is a central figure of post-Liberation Bulgarian literature.

Modernism in Bulgarian literature

Modernism emerged in the early 20th century with symbolism and expressionism. Key poets include Pencho Slaveykov, Peyo Yavorov, and Dimcho Debelyanov. The Diabolical group included Svetoslav Minkov and Vladimir Polyanov.

Socialist realism

After 1944, literature was subjected to socialist realism. Writers such as Dimitar Dimov (Тютюн), Dimitar Talev (Железният светилник), and Emilian Stanev (Крадецът на праскови) wrote significant works, some censored.

Literary genres

Genres are classified into epic (epos, novel, short story, fable), lyric (poem, ode, elegy, sonnet), and dramatic (tragedy, comedy, drama). Each genre has specific conventions of form and content.

Tropes

Tropes are figurative uses of language: metaphor (implicit comparison), simile (explicit comparison with като), metonymy (substitution based on association), synecdoche (part for whole), personification, hyperbole, and litotes.

Plot structure

The structure of a literary work includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution (denouement). This plot arc is typical for narrative genres.

Point of view

Point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told: first-person (I), third-person limited, third-person omniscient, and objective (dramatic). It affects the reader's access to information.

Thesis statement

An interpretive essay has a clear thesis statement that presents an arguable interpretation of the literary work. The thesis should be specific and supported by textual evidence.

Textual evidence

Textual evidence should be quoted accurately and integrated into the argument. Analysis should explain how the evidence supports the thesis, not just summarize the plot.