Volodina T. Polysemy of the Derivative Word: Semantic and Cognitive Aspects (A Study of Prefixal Denominal Verbs in Modern German).

The dissertation focuses on the study of semantic, cognitive and word-building specificity of polysemantic denominal prefixal verbs in modern German. The research has proved that polysemy of denominal derivatives is a natural and widespread phenomenon which enriches the vocabulary by extending the sense scope of words. It has been revealed that polysemantic prefixal denominal German verbs are complex, multi-component lexical units which differ from monosemantic derivatives in their lexical and word-building meanings. The thesis elucidates the ways in which the analysed derivatives are formed and the conditions under which they are manifested in speech. Eight semantic classes of the corresponding verbs are singled out and the inventory of semantic arguments, defined as deep motivators for generating new meanings of polysemantic words, has been determined. The research outlines the set of frame situations actualized by denominal prefixal verbs in modern German that are motivated by semantic arguments within the predicate-actant frame