VERBS OF MOTION BY MEANS OF TRANSPORT: THE RELATION BETWEEN LEXICOLOGICAL THEORY AND LEXICOGRAPHICAL PRACTICE

Abstract

This paper has examined the degree to which Serbian lexicographical practice related to the formulation of dictionary sense definitions is based on theoretical achievements in the field of lexicology, in particular in the sphere of semantic componential analysis.  The componential analysis described in this paper has involved the verbs belonging to the lexical field of motion by means of transport. The corpus used in the research has consisted of 21 dictionary entries for the verbs from the given lexical field excerpted from the Dictionary of Matica Srpska. Primary (basic) senses of the verbs in question have undergone the componential analysis aimed at establishing their hierarchically organized structure, which has provided the foundation for the formulation of dictionary sense definitions based on theoretical regularity and consistency. These definitions have been compared to the sense definitions of the same verbs given in the Dictionary of Matica Srpska. The aim of the analysis has been to examine the degree to which this analytical approach has been applied in Serbian lexicographical practice as well as to develop a model for the formulation of precise and comprehensive dictionary sense definitions being in accordance with the complementary relation between lexicology and lexicography.