Transcript RAZ - UiT

Russian RAZ-:
A case of semantic camouflage
Laura A. Janda
Tore Nesset
University of Tromsø
1
From space to aspect?
• Conventional wisdom:
– Purely aspectual prefixes
are semantically “empty”
• Our alternative Hypothesis:
– Spatial meanings are the driving force behind
aspectual distinctions in Russian
• How can this be tested empirically?
– Large database
– Statistical analysis
– Semantic analysis of non-prefixed and prefixed
verbs
2
Our contribution
• General arguments why prefixes aren’t empty
–
–
–
–
The number of aspectual prefixes
The statistical distribution of the prefixes
Prefixation of borrowings
Prefix variation
• Case study of the raz- prefix
– Used in various types of perfectives with spatial
meaning
– Spatial meaning attested in putatively purely
aspectual uses as well
3
Russian aspectual prefixation
RAZ-tajat’
‘melt’ pf
Specialized
perfective
Lexical prefix
tajat’ ‘melt’ ipf
vit’ ‘twist’ ipf
žeč’ ‘burn’ ipf
RAZvit’
‘develop’
pf
Natural perfective
Purely perfectivizing
prefix
Complex act
Superlexical prefix
RAZ-žeč’
‘kindle’ pf
4
Russian aspectual prefixation
We focus on
this part
Natural
perfective
Purely perf
prefix
This part has been
studied a lot
Imperfective
Specialized
perfective
Lexical
prefix
Affects
argument
structure
Adverbial
meanings
Complex
act
Superlex
prefix
5
Why purely perfectivizing prefixes
aren’t empty (1)
• Assume:
– Only purpose of prefixes is to mark
perfective aspect
• How many prefixes are needed?
– Reasonable answer: ONE
• Russian has 19 relevant prefixes
(Krongauz 1998)
M.A. Krongauz
The number of prefixes suggests that they are
not pure markers of aspect.
6
Why purely perfectivizing prefixes
aren’t empty (2)
• Assume
– Prefixes are pure
aspectual markers
• Prediction
Numbers from
Exploring
Emptiness
database at UiT
– Even distribution
of prefixes across
base verbs they
combine with
The UNeven distribution suggests that the prefixes
do different jobs.
7
Why purely perfectivizing prefixes
aren’t empty (3)
• Assume
– Prefixes are pure aspectual markers
• Prediction
– Prefixes are assigned to borrowings
in random fashion
ZA-asfal’tirovat’ COVER
• But
– Native speakers have intuitions
– Borrowings are assigned prefixes in
a consistent way.
PRO-fil’trovat’
MOVE
THROUGH
The consistent assignment of prefixes to borrowings
suggests that prefixes are not semantically empty.
8
Why purely perfectivizing prefixes
aren’t empty (4)
• Assume
– Prefixes are pure
aspectual markers
• Fact
– 28% of base verbs
combine with 2 or more
prefixes
• Prediction
– Prefix combinations
distributed evenly
% realized
40.00 %
35.67 %
35.00 %
30.00 %
25.00 %
20.00 %
15.00 %
10.00 %
6.30 %
5.00 %
0.46 %
0.00 %
0.03 %
0.02 %
2 prefixes 3 prefixes 4 prefixes 5 prefixes 6 prefixes
Skewed distribution of prefix combinations
suggests that prefixes are not empty.
9
Why purely perfectivizing prefixes
aren’t empty (5)
• Assume
– Prefixes are pure
aspectual markers
• Fact
– 61 attested
combinations of 2
prefixes
• Predictions
– Prefix combinations
distributed evenly
number of verbs with given combination
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Skewed distribution of two-prefix combinations
suggests that prefixes are not empty.
10
All these arguments
are suggestive…
… But in order to drive
home their point, they
need to do semantic
analysis of the prefixes.
The rest of the paper explores the semantics of raz11
Structure of the argument
1. Explore meaning of raz- in verbs where its
meaning is UNcontroversial:
–
–
Specialized perfectives (lexical prefixes)
Complex act perfectives (superlexical prefixes)
2. Compare with the use of raz- in verbs where its
meaning is controversial:
–
Natural perfectives (purely aspectual prefixes)
3. The same meaning attested in (1) and (2).
4. Raz- has the same meaning in all types of
perfectives.
5. There is no semantically empty raz- in Russian.
12
Meaning: A network model
• Category:
– Network of related subcategories
• Prototype:
– Central subcategory that is the best example of the
category as a whole
• Extension relations:
– Subcategories relate to the prototype via e.g.
metaphor and metonymy.
• Schema:
– Categories may have a general schema that covers all
subcategories.
13
General schema and prototype for raz• “APART”:
– Outward movement in various
directions from a point
• The general schema is
instantiated in a variety of
subcategories
• Prototype = “PHYSICAL APART”
– Physical object divided in pieces
To explode is
RAZorvat’sja
14
Specialized/complex act
perfectives
9. UN-, DIS-
10. UN-, DIS(metaphor)
razgruzit’ ‘unload’
rastoptat’
‘trample’
1. PHYSICAL
APART
2. CRUSH
4. SPREAD
(metaphor)
5. SOFTEN,
DISSOLVE
raspilit’ ‘saw apart’
6. SWELL
3. SPREAD
rastvorit’
‘dissolve’
rasšifrovat’ ‘decipher’
7. EXCITE
11.
INGRESS.
raskalit’
razvolnovat’sja
razreklamirovat’
‘make redraskatat’
‘become
upset’‘roll out’
‘publicize all over’
hot’
razdut’ ‘inflate’
8. EXCITE
(metaphor) razdosadovat’
15
‘annoy’
Natural perfectives
9. UN-, DIS-
1. PHYSICAL
APART
2. CRUSH
4. SPREAD
(metaphor)
10. UN-, DIS(metaphor)
5. SOFTEN,
DISSOLVE
6. SWELL
3. SPREAD
7. EXCITE
11.
INGRESS.
8. EXCITE
(metaphor)
16
Only in
specialized
perfectives
Natural perfectives
9. UN-, DIS-
1. PHYSICAL
APART
2. CRUSH
4. SPREAD
(metaphor)
10. UN-, DIS(metaphor)
5. SOFTEN,
DISSOLVE
6. SWELL
3. SPREAD
7. EXCITE
11.
INGRESS.
Only in
complex acts
8. EXCITE
(metaphor)
17
Semantic overlap and the illusion
of emptiness
Specialized perfectives &
complex acts
APART
VERB
MEANING
RAZ- VERB STEM
• Prefix and verb have
different meanings
• The meaning of the prefix
stands out
Natural perfectives:
APART
VERB
MEANING
RAZ- VERB STEM
• Prefix and verb have
overlapping meanings
• The meaning of the prefix is
“invisible”
• An illusion of semantic
18
emptiness is created
Wrapping up
• Aspectual prefixes in Russian
– have a spatial basis
– are not semantically empty
• General arguments why prefixes aren’t empty
– The number of aspectual prefixes
– The statistical distribution of the prefixes
– Prefixation of borrowings
– Prefix variation
19
Wrapping up (2)
• Case study of the raz- prefix
– Used in various types of perfectives with spatial
meaning
– Spatial meaning “APART” attested in putatively
purely aspectual uses as well
20
RAZojtis’ ‘walk in different directions’
John Cleese in the Monty Python sketch “Ministry of silly walks”
21