Schematic meaning of the Croatian verbal prefix iz-

In contrast to the traditional approach where all verbs with the same prefix form a cluster of homonymic relations, this chapter proposes a single underlying schematic meaning as more or less common to all such verbs. Although these verbs differ in their more specific individual meanings, on the schematic level they form a category motivated by the single superschema. The schematic meaning of the Croatian verbal prefix iz- and its allomorphs is-, iš-, iž-, i- and iza- (jointly referred to as iz-) is best characterized as ‘transition from an intralocative to an extralocative position’. Its semantic span runs from prototypical to peripheral cases, and is defined by the conceptual status and relations among the agentive trajector, trajector and landmark.

• Affiliations: 1: University of Osijek