The Dynamics of Meaning: Russ. VZIAT' 'take'

The paper argues that the steps of meaning extension are taken according to a number of rules and that the rules that operate in meaning extension within one semantic class are different in nature from those operating in meaning extension beyond a semantic class. The word under consideration is a highly polysemous Russian verb vziat' 'take', the task of constructing the entry for which is challenging. It has been observed in Fernandez 1998, Jackendoff 1983, Jackendoff 1992 that this verb, as well as other verbs of moving an object, reveals a regular relationship between the meaning of movement and the meaning of possession, but the rest of meanings of these verbs belonging to fields other than either movement or possession have been ignored.

The meaning of vziat' is extended through four semantic classes, namely MOVING AN OBJECT (vziat' knigu so stola 'to take the book from the table') CHOICE (vziat' Manillu iz kuchi sigar na stole 'to take a Manilla from the heap on the table'), POSSESSION (vziat' podarok 'to take a present') and POWER (vziat' krepost' 'to take the fortress'). Within each semantic class semantic extension elaborates on various aspects of the situation, as for example, a final object destination ('to one's personal space', e.g. vzial so stola, or 'to a definite point within one's personal space', e.g. vzial v telegu, v ruki), characteristics of the Agent (non-moving - moving, e.g. vzial s soboi), etc. In the class POSSESSION semantic extension goes over various terms of possession (permanent or temporary, in exchange for money or free, according to an agreement, without it or contrary to the wish of the Possessor), etc. Modifications of meanings within one semantic class are related not conceptually, but derivationally, by rules that are applied to one meaning to produce another. Semantic extension crossing the borderline between semantic classes expresses conceptual links, which can be formulated as axioms, such as 'to take means to possess' and 'to take without an agreement means to use force'. The two types of semantic extension use different means of meaning shift. Within one semantic class they are specification of participants, the change in their characteristics, the shift of perspective, whereas when semantic extension goes from one semantic class to another, it is the change in the semantic roles of participants.