Bakumenko O. Formation of Separable Verbal Prefixes in German: Semantic, Structural and Functional Aspects

This thesis focuses on the study of formation of separable verbal prefixes ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein- in the German language of the 16th – 17th centuries in semantic, structural and functional aspects. The paper argues that formation and development of these verbal prefixes is the result of grammaticalization. A separable element undergoes significant semantic changes that influence the structure of the construction. The preverbs get more abstract meaning and turn into prefixes. The research reveals atypical for modern German separability of the verb and elements ab-, an-, auf-, aus-, ein- in the contact position in the language of the 16th – 17th centuries which is caused by prefixation. The paper offers an analysis of word-forming and text-forming functions of the separable elements.