Functions of the Prefix w(e)- in Polish Verbal Derivatives

Abstract

The article presents the functions of the prefix w(e)- in Polish verbal derivatives. For this purpose a combined analysis of semantic, word-formation and syntactic features of Polish verbs with the prefix w(e)- has been carried out. It was n ecessary to determin e very n arro w, precise m ean ings of th e dériva rives, beca use in \ " some verbs it can only be identified within a context, e.g. wejsc do pokoju, but wejsc w bloto, or wejsc na dach. Also presented are the principles of derivation for these verbs, their syntactic valency and the meanings determined by the prefix, as well as the formal and semantic relations occurring between the derived verbs and - -< their bases. During the analysis the following factors have been taken into account: '■'• /. separation into semantic groups with regard to the meaning of the verb with the prefix w(e)- and the presentation of a sample verb, representing a given semantic group; 2. iden tification of the derivational process governing the formation of verbal derivatives; the prefix w(e)- as a préfixai forman t, as a part of divided forman t or as ; a componen t part of the phrasal word-formation base; 3. a connotational presen tation - ; of the verbs with the prefix w(e)- and a presentation of interdependence between ^ the formational structure of derivatives and the type of its syntactic combinations (in other words: its syntactic valency); 4. a presentation of the verbs with the prefix w(e)- according to register or style, e.g. informal, general, rare, emotive verbs. For the semantic analysis of Polish prefixed verbs a widely used method of transformation has been employed, e.g. wdeptac <— ldepczac, to get something to the inside of something', wklepac <— 'klepiac, to get something to the inside of something9, worac <— 'orzac, to get something deep into something', wkroczyc <— 'kroczac, to come to somewhere'. The word-formation principle governing the formation of a given derivative has been determined on the basis of formal and semantic relations, e.g. w-barw-ic <— barwa, w-czytac sic <— czytac, w-deptac <— deptač, wglçb-ic <— w glajo, w-orač <— orač.