The Signs of Language and the Balkan Cognitive Model

Authors:

Pages: 396-405

Abstract:

Searching the specificity of the Balkan cognitive model the present paper is concentrated on a sign with a cryptic nature and unusually important role in the Balkan languages – the verb “to have”. Тhe Balkan model is outlined with the lexeme имам itself, specialized as one of the main expressions of POSSESSIVENESS. It is not difficult to be perceived that the sema “possess” appear as a key and “pass through” the whole structure and uses of имам/a avea, ensuring to them special and similar place in the linguistic systems of the Roman and Bulgarian languages. In the most of the uses of имам and a avea (in impersonal or in independent use) the concept of POSSESSIVENSS is crossed with the EXISTENTIALITY. And this presence of clearly expressed EXISTENTIAL FUNCTIONS, parallel with the expression of POSSESSIVENESS, is an original peculiarity of the Balkan areal. The verbs имам/a avea are approved at the same time as a segment of the grammatical and lexical aspects. As every concept the EXISTENTIALITY and the POSSESSIVENESS are transformed in a stem where the functional-semantic field of mutually supplementing lexical and grammatical items is concentrated. Among them a light transition is implemented, perceptible in diachronic perspective with the grammaticalization of linguistic elements and the formation of some Balkan verb tenses. Тhe use of “to have” is under the cognitive scenario S possesses (has possessed, will possess) P in its personal space.

Keywords:

concept, cognitive model, existentiality, possessivenss

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