Preverbs in Megrelian

Abstract

The preverb is one of the main tools used to reflect spatial relations defining direction or location of an action denoted by a verb. The Megrelian preverb system is quite complex. According to their morphological structure, Megrelian preverbs are of two main types: simple and complex. As for their function, they can be used: 1) to show direction (with verbs of motion or movement); 2) to express orientation, indicating whether a motion is oriented either towards or away from the interlocutors; 3) to indicate perfectivity; 4) to add some shade of meaning, i.e. to derive verbs with some new different semantics.

There are 12 simple preverbs in Megrelian. Complex preverbs are formed from the simple ones by adding location particles or some simple preverbs. Sometimes the semantics of a complex preverb is not equal to the mere sum of its components.