ovement in the air. If the manner component is focalized, then the verbs fall in the subdomain To move in a circular manner . If the focus is on the medium, then the verbs belong to the subdomain To move through the air .
The table below shows the double membership of these verbs.
VERB
FOCUS
DIMENSION
MEANING
whizz
В
zoom
В
circle
whirl
Manner
В
To move quickly
В В
To move in a circular manner
To move (an engine/device) very quickly with a loud whistling noise
To move (a vehicle/an aircraft) very quickly with a loud buzzing/humming noise
To move in a circular manner in the air
To turn round in the air very quickly
whizz
В
zoom
circle
whirl
Medium
В
To move through the air
To move very quickly through the air with a loud whistling noise
To move very quickly through the air with a loud noise
To fly around in circles
To move very quickly in a circular manner through the air
2.2. Genus of the lexeme
Many verbs describe generic movement. Verb membership is then determined by the semantic parameter of medium or direction, or by the parameter specifying the nature of the subject/object.
The table below presents the verbs whose membership is influenced by the medium parameter.
VERB
MEDIUM
DIMENSION
MEANING
dart
Air
Land
To move through the air
To move quickly using one's feet
To fly suddenly and quickly (insects)
To run suddenly
dive
plunge
Air
To move down through air
To move down through air
To move downwards
To move down through air quickly and steeply
To move down through air suddenly a long way
To fall suddenly a long way from a high position
dive
В
plunge
Water
To move in/down below the surface of a liquid
To cause sb/sth to move in/down below the surface of a liquid
To move head-first down into water
To cause sth to move down into water quickly and violently
sink
Air
Water/
Liquid/
Substance
To move down through air
To move in/down below the surface of a liquid
To move down through air
To move down below the surface of a liquid/soft substance
glide
Water
Air
Land
To move over liquid
To move through the air
To move smoothly
To move (boat) quietly and smoothly across water
To fly quietly
To move quietly and smoothly in an effortless way
The verb dart describes sudden movement in air and on land:
(3) He darted across the room.
(4) Bees were darting from one flower to another.
The verbs dive, plunge and sink designate downward movement in air and water:
(5) She plunged into the swimming-pool.
(6) The falcon plunged towards its prey. br/>
Sink , as the general term, denotes movement in a wider va...
