Classification of meanings of the Lithuanian genitive based on the cognitive grammar account

LTReikšminiai žodžiai: Kilmininkas; Kognityvinė gramatika; Linksnio reikšmė; Linksnio reikšmės; Linksnis; Semantika; Semantikos žemėlapis; Semantinis tinklas; Semantinis žemėlapis; Case; Case meaning; Cognitive grammar; Genitive; Semantic; Semantic map; Semantic network.

ENThis article is a first attempt to provide the full classification of the meanings of Lithuanian genitive based on cognitive grammar account. Only preliminarily observations are made and further investigations are necessary to provide a very detail and precise pidture of the semantics of the Lithuanian genitive. However, taking into account the issues discussed above, it can be already stated that another case of Lithuanian is systematically described now by applying the principles of cognitive grammar. Thus far, Jurgita Kerevičienė (2008) has applied the cognitive grammar principles to an exploration of the Lithuanian dative, and Eglė Žilinskaitė (2010) has described meanings of postpositional locatives and their equivalents using the theoretical principles of cognitive grammar as well. The author's Study allows determining which genitive meanings are more closely and which are more distantly (inter)related. For this aim, the semantic network method is very convenient as it captures both differences and similarities between members of one category at the same time. Given that, in cognitive grammar, the usage of grammatical categories is perceived as being polysemous; the semantic network is particularly suited for showing their intrinsic structures. Therefore, in addition to Kerevičienė's already concluded semantic map of the Lithuanian dative, it is crucial that semantic maps of all other cases of Lithuanian - including the genitive case - be produced, so that case descriptions, drawn up using modern techniques, would be available for typological studies as well. [From the publication]