Abstract
This article analyzes Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS) and Bulgarian (Blg.) verbs prefixed with od /ot- ‘(away) from’ from a cognitive linguistics perspective, focusing on spatial meaning extensions into non-spatial domains, as well as similarities and differences between the languages in question. The prototypical sense of these verbs involves a path and can be presented as a trajector (TR) moving away from a landmark (LM), often a LM-boundary. This from schema is illustrated by BCS/Blg. otići/otida ‘go (away)’ and odalečiti se/otdaleča se ‘go/move away’. Most non-spatial meanings of od /ot- verbs are derived by applying the idea of movement through space or a spatial path to a metaphorical or figurative movement/path—for example, BCS/Blg. odustati od/otkaža se ot ‘refuse, give up’ and odskakati od (impf.) /otliča se ot ‘stand out, be different from’—in which the verbs often co-occur with the prepositions od/ot. Our analysis shows that the various meanings of verbs with od /ot- are not random collections of senses, but form semantic networks with systematic and partially predictable associations of abstract ideas and spatial locations.
Highlights
Abstract motion Most non-spatial meanings of prefixed verbs are derived by applying the idea of movement through space, or a spatial path to a metaphorical or figurative movement/path; for instance, BCS/Blg. odalečiti se/otdaleča se ‘go/move away’ can be reinterpreted as a metaphorical movement away and these verbs can be used to mean ‘grow apart’
Blg. otmina can mean ‘come to an end’ (e.g., krizata otminava ‘the crisis is coming to an end’ or krizata njama da otmine nikogo ‘the crisis won’t spare anyone’)
BCS would use verbs prefixed with pro, and with za- and mimo- ‘the crisis won’t spare anyone’
Summary
Abstract motion Most non-spatial meanings of prefixed verbs are derived by applying the idea of movement through space, or a spatial path to a metaphorical or figurative movement/path; for instance, BCS/Blg. odalečiti se/otdaleča se ‘go/move away’ can be reinterpreted as a metaphorical movement away and these verbs can be used to mean ‘grow apart’. – Separation events implying a TR pushing (itself or something else) away from a LM such as BCS/Blg. odgurati (se)/otblăsna (se) ‘push away’; constructions expressing this meaning often co-occur with the preposition od/ot;
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