접두사 UN-의 의미적 양상

Abstract

There are found three types of the English prefix un- in contexts. The first type is very productive, chiefly with adjectives and derived adjectives, assigning the negative meaning to the bases. The second type derives the reversative meaning with its affixation to some pure transitive verbs or some denominal verbs. The other derives the privative meaning, as combined with some denominal verbs. This article deals mainly with the second reversative un- and attempts to clarify the reason why the prefix un- conveys the reversative meaning instead of the more expected negative meaning, exclusively in which cases un- is affixed to some pure transitive verbs and some denominal verbs. It will be considered how the semantic structure of the sentences involving un-transitive verbs can be analysed under van Valin and LaPolla's (1997) assumptions. Although a part of transitive verbs do not have any causal meaning before they are combined with prefix un-, the derivational verbs of 'un+transitive verb' are converted to the causatives which include causal meaning in its semantic representation. In conclusion, un- is affixed to verbs in the semantic structure, not but in morphology or syntax. Un- negates only the semantic feature of state in the semantic representation of 'un-verb'. In this process, 'un+transitive' comes to have a reversative meaning.(Namseoul University)