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Aspectual Polysemy and Homonymy in Czech

Publication at Faculty of Arts |
2021

Abstract

The article builds on Starý Kořánová (2021) focusing on aspectual polysemy and homonymy of Czech verbs. From the point of view of polysemy/homonymy, verbs we deal with can be classified in four batches: Batch 1: verbs with the verbal base -létat [fly] with various prefixes Batch 2: verbs with verbal bases -padat [fall] and -sedat [get seated, sit down] with various prefixes Batch 3: verbs with verbal bases -vážet and -vážit/-vázat Batch 4: predominantly verbs of motion with the prefix po-.

The data are presented in tables which include the following simple verbal forms: infinitive, present, imperative, preterit participle, and passive participle. The issues of aspectual homonymy/polysemy are closely related to the issue of which factors contribute to the aspectual interpretation of an utterance.

A list of examples of such factors is provided. To identify the aspectual value of an utterance, it is not enough to consider the morphology of the verb only.

The aspectual construal of an utterance is not determined by the morphology of the verb alone, but rather by the way in which it is used.