Семантика проспективности в русском и других славянских языках (на материале глаголов с приставкой пред-)

Abstract

This study continues the derivatological and aspectological traditions of studying verbal prefixes as semantic distributors of the verb, expanding its capabilities in the expression of an action. The article discusses the results of a study of prospective semantics based on the verbs with the prefix pred-. This prefix has an old Slavonic origin and is realized in several meanings, the most striking of which is an indication of a previously performed action (prospectivity). This meaning is not primary, as it derives from the spatial one (being ahead), which reflects the general picture of time representation through space, on the one hand, and the models of development of spatial meanings in other semantic spheres that have developed in the language, on the other. Prospective semantics proved to be in demand not only in old Slavonic, but also in other Slavic languages (despite the quantitative differences in the use of units in these languages). The analysis of verbs and units derived from verbs with prefix pred- and its analogues shows a significantly greater number of units with this prefix in Russian and other Slavic languages (Bulgarian, Rusin, Czech, Polish, etc.) in comparison with the old Slavonic language, as well as their constant growth and semantic diversity. The research reveals the semantic features of the prefix pred- in Russian with the background of other Slavic languages (less semantic diversity of prefix meanings and verbs with it in comparison with the Bulgarian and Czech languages; predominance of prospective prefix semantics in the verbal sphere and weakening of the spatial one; absence of the meaning of the preliminary action in relation to the main one), and examines the interaction of the spatial meaning of the prefix with the meanings of prospectivity and superiority.