Природа семантических сдвигов в области базовой лексики: попытка систематизации

Вопросы языкового родства. 2024. № 22/3-4. С. 367–389.

Михайлова Т. А., Volkonskaya M. A.

In this paper we analyze common scenarios for lexemes replaced within the extended 207-item Swadesh wordlist within microfamilies or individual languages. Four main scenarios for the further semantic development of such lexemes have been identified: (1) complete disappearance of the lexeme from a language (or group of languages); (2) preservation of the lexeme in derived words or paronyms with the original semantics still intact; (3) preservation of the lexeme with the original semantics still intact as a poetic or elevated word (i.e., the lexeme no longer belongs to the basic vocabulary); (4) change of the original semantics. The final scenario can be further subdivided into several types: (4.1) a relatively rare case when the lexeme is preserved as part of the basic vocabulary, but changes its meaning; (4.2) when the lexeme itself is lost, but the stem is preserved in various derived words; (4.3) when the lexeme undergoes semantic narrowing and thus is ousted to the semantic periphery; (4.4) when a new semanteme appears in a given language leading to a corresponding new opposition within the framework of parasynonymy; (4.5) when the lexeme is no longer preserved as part of the basic vocabulary, but the stem, with additional morphological derivation, remains. The research mostly focuses on the material of Indo-European languages, but the described methodology may be used in similar studies on other material.

Keywords: реконструкция, семантические переходы, semantic shifts, семантическое поле, базовая лексика, basic vocabulary, lexical substitutions, semantic fields, linguistic reconstruction, morphological derivation, лексические замены, морфологическая деривация