Transformations on image schemas and cross-linguistic polysemy
Transformations on image schemas and cross-linguistic polysemy Transformations on image schemas and cross-linguistic polysemy
Traugott 1986). A second possibility is that they are looking in the same direction, with the consequence that either B will be in front of A (Fig. 3), or A will be in front of B. Lexical instantiations of Fig. 2 and 3, respectively, are against and follow. Finally, A and B might be oriented in an explicitly parallel fashion (Fig. 4), thus instantiating a parallel relation between A and B, exemplified by with. Together, the figures 2–4 illustrate various specifications of the schema Spatial association. A B Fig. 2. Face-to-face orientation. A B Fig. 3. Sequential orientation. A B Fig. 4. Parallel orientation. A B In the next section I will account for the developmental paths of each of the specific schemas above in terms of lexical polysemy. 4.
ecame oppositional (Traugott 1985: 518). 5 (The examples in (8) and (9) are from Dekeyser 1990: 39.) (8) a. wifl Italia opposite Italy b. Hie gefuhtun wifl Walum They fought against the Celts of Britain/theWelsh However with was also used with the meaning ‘together with’, that is, the “inverse” meaning of ‘against’, instantiating a parallel orientation. (9) Ferde wum man wifl hine Some man travelled with him Thus OE wifl shows a meaning development from face-to-face to parallel orientation. The polysemy of the OSw. equivalent vifl suggests that this change in meaning is not unmotivated. Besides the meaning ‘to’, ‘toward’ (10a) and ‘against’ (10b), vifl (viflar, wiidh) also had a comitative meaning ‘together with’ (10c). (See further Ekberg 2002, from which the examples in (10) are taken.) (10) a. fiöl niflar vifl iorfl fell down to earth b. viflar min gufl against my God c. ath the wille wiidh swerige bliffua that they wanted with Sweden to-stay that they wanted to stay with Sweden In Modern Swedish the meaning variants in (10) have all disappeared from the standard language. Instead, another variant of meaning of OSw. vifl, namely ‘at’, has become the central meaning of Modern Swedish vid: 5 The meaning of opposition is presumably derived by pragmatic strengthening of the spatial meaning ‘toward’ (see Traugott 1989: 51). 35
- Page 1 and 2: Reprinted from Tre uppsatser om sem
- Page 3 and 4: predicates (verb, prepositions, adv
- Page 5 and 6: context like The road goes from Mal
- Page 7 and 8: polysemy. This is presumably true f
- Page 9: Given a specific image schema, is i
- Page 13 and 14: (13) a. Er fiel und stand sofort wi
- Page 15 and 16: again-set - which speaks in favor o
- Page 17 and 18: the same development as Greek metá
- Page 19 and 20: (17) Face-to-face-orientation: OE w
- Page 21 and 22: Croft, William, 1993: The role of d
ecame oppositi<strong>on</strong>al (Traugott 1985: 518). 5 (The examples in (8) <strong>and</strong> (9) are<br />
from Dekeyser 1990: 39.)<br />
(8) a. wifl Italia<br />
opposite Italy<br />
b. Hie gefuhtun wifl Walum<br />
They fought against the Celts of Britain/theWelsh<br />
However with was also used with the meaning ‘together with’, that is, the<br />
“inverse” meaning of ‘against’, instantiating a parallel orientati<strong>on</strong>.<br />
(9) Ferde wum man wifl hine<br />
Some man travelled with him<br />
Thus OE wifl shows a meaning development from face-to-face to parallel<br />
orientati<strong>on</strong>. The <strong>polysemy</strong> of the OSw. equivalent vifl suggests that this change<br />
in meaning is not unmotivated. Besides the meaning ‘to’, ‘toward’ (10a) <strong>and</strong><br />
‘against’ (10b), vifl (viflar, wiidh) also had a comitative meaning ‘together with’<br />
(10c). (See further Ekberg 2002, from which the examples in (10) are taken.)<br />
(10) a. fiöl niflar vifl iorfl<br />
fell down to earth<br />
b. viflar min gufl<br />
against my God<br />
c. ath the wille wiidh swerige bliffua<br />
that they wanted with Sweden to-stay<br />
that they wanted to stay with Sweden<br />
In Modern Swedish the meaning variants in (10) have all disappeared from the<br />
st<strong>and</strong>ard language. Instead, another variant of meaning of OSw. vifl, namely ‘at’,<br />
has become the central meaning of Modern Swedish vid:<br />
5 The meaning of oppositi<strong>on</strong> is presumably derived by pragmatic strengthening of the spatial<br />
meaning ‘toward’ (see Traugott 1989: 51).<br />
35
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