Semantic shift in speech verbs (in view of etymological analysis)

Krasimira Fuchedzhieva
Institute for Bulgarian Language “Prof. Lyubоmir Andreychin”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria

Abstract
This study presents several models of semantic development for Bulgarian verbs of different origins. It examines a part of the vast lexico-semantic field of verbs for speaking in Bulgarian, in particular analysing the semantics and etymology of verbs with the meanings ‘speak’, ‘speak a lot, annoyingly’, ‘speak idle talk, babble’, ‘speak unintelligibly, vaguel’, ‘insult’ and ‘slander’. As a result of semantic development, the meanings of the verbs кàзвам ‘say’ and обàждам (се) ‘call’ are also considered.

Keywords: etymology; verbs; verbs for speaking; semantic development; semantic shift; semantic typology, diachronic semantics